Development Planning and Infrastructure

Goal

Build the strategic and technical capacity of the state at provincial and local level to accelerate delivery of quality infrastructure and services.

Purpose of the Programme

The aim of this programme is to support the Office of the Premier, provincial government departments and local government in the field of development planning and infrastructure.

The Programme

The main responsibility of this programme is to provide support to provincial and local government in the areas of development planning and infrastructure development. Development planning is a broad category that includes the development of Integrated Development Plans at local government level, strategic and performance plans at provincial level, project and programme packaging and detailed project planning. The programme seeks to provide technical support and advice to targeted provincial departments and municipalities. In addition, this programme is responsible for driving long term planning, such as the Provincial Growth and Development Plan.

The programme responds to a situation where South Africa’s infrastructure has deteriorated over the last ten years due to short sightedness and a lack of investment both pre- and post-apartheid. Chronic under spending on public infrastructure is reflected in the conditions of South Africa’s drinking water systems, sanitation, transport, airports, ports, electricity regulation, hospitals, clinics and schools. For the Eastern Cape Province, this reality is exacerbated by the fact that this is the only Province that had two former homelands (Ciskei and Transkei) prior to the establishment of the Democratic Government.

According to the 2010/11 Budget Statement, expenditure on infrastructure in the Province has increased gradually from R 2,3 billion in 2005/06 to R 6,2 billion in 2011/12. In an August 2009 report developed by ECSECC, Office of the Premier and Provincial Treasury it was calculated that the current backlog stands at R174 Billion. 40% of these social backlogs are in the OR Tambo region. Housing tops the backlogs at R57, 9 Billion, with Health facilities accounting for R19 Billion, although Education backlogs are estimated at R28, 5 Billion, mud structures and unsafe schools account for R4 Billion of the total backlog. At an escalation of 8% per annum in the cost to provide infrastructure, a 2.5% maintenance cost calculated on the existing infrastructure replacement cost of R200bn, and an annual increase of 4.5% on the total infrastructure allocation of R9.7 Billion, the backlogs will never be eradicated using the current funding norms. There is therefore a need to create alternative solutions and funding models as means of addressing backlogs and infrastructure investment.

This programme seeks to build foundation and momentum in terms of project management capacity, overall skills development and other positive spin-offs from overall infrastructure investment especially in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, Buffalo City and through to the eastern region of the Eastern Cape Province.

In a bid to establish centralised development and infrastructure planning, implementation and monitoring capability to enhance the socioeconomic impact of such spending, and increase efficiency gains and job creation, the programme will identify and package strategic infrastructure projects and programmes provincially that can help boost socio-economic growth and simultaneously attract private investment.

Development Planning and Infrastructure Projects

Support to Municipalities (Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City, Chris Hani, Lukhanji)
Support to the Local Government Turn Around Strategy
Development of the Eastern Cape chapter of the National Transport Masterplan (NATMAP)