‘Adequate infrastructure determines Gauteng’s long-term well-being’

Gauteng can benefit significantly from better infrastructure in other parts of the country as well as better links with other provinces, according to minister of economic development, Ebrahim Patel. Speaking at the recent Gauteng Investment Conference in Midrand, Patel said an improvement in the country’s rail, road and communication infrastructure would go a long way to connecting Gauteng as an economic hub to the rest of the country and the world. “For example, agro-processing based in Gauteng will have easier access to feedstock and raw materials produced in other provinces. Significant improvement of the OR Tambo airport will support the smart logistics base that can move fresh fruit from KwaZulu-Natal via Gauteng to export markets by air.” He said improving infrastructure would also help unlock opportunities in tourism to offer tourists a South Africa package that connects all nine provinces. “Gauteng is home to the biggest airport in Africa and investment in infrastructure will leverage this asset to facilitate swift links with other major hubs. “It remains our challenge that the rail to the coast is often slow and unreliable, while our ports are expensive by international standards and not particularly efficient,” said Patel. “For Gauteng, these are particularly difficult issues, since they largely lie outside its borders yet determine its long-term well-being. We recognise this challenge and are working with Transnet to address these.” According to Patel these are also issues that have been taken up with the newly established Infrastructure Commission that is tasked with identifying and prioritising projects, ensuring efficient funding and improving the process of procuring infrastructure services. “Critically, we need to consistently balance the costs and benefits of infrastructure projects from the standpoint of increasingly inclusive economic development,” he said. “Every country identifies its competitive edge. Turkey is located next to Europe. China has an enormous market. We have minerals. We must add value to these minerals locally.” And Gauteng, he said, was ideally placed and able to do this. “We need to ensure continued growth along the mining value chain, and in particular the production of capital goods, industrial inputs as well as manufactured outputs,” he said. “We recognise that sustaining industry will require continued efforts to get the regulatory framework right as well as ensure adequate, reliable and affordable infrastructure – especially electricity, bulk transport and water.”