Macpherson calls for overhaul of building regulations to fast-track infrastructure delivery

PUBLIC Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dean Macpherson, has called for an urgent overhaul of South Africa's building regulations and approval systems to fast-track infrastructure development, saying bureaucratic red tape continues to delay projects and undermine economic growth.

- SIPHELELE DLUDLA

Speaking at the 2025 National Construction Summit on Thursday, Macpherson said it was unacceptable that developers and government entities were still forced to wait up to two years for construction plan approvals.

He warned that such delays were slowing down the momentum required to boost economic growth and meeting the country's infrastructure needs.

With the summit attended by more than 2 000 delegates from government, business, and labour, Macpherson said consensus was emerging around one priority: accelerating delivery by cutting red tape. "We know that further work needs to be done to remove red tape facing construction projects. It simply should not take 18 to 24 months to approve development plans. That pace is incompatible with the urgency of our economic and infrastructure needs," he said. There is currently R14 billion in construction projects being designed, planned and constructed across all national and provincial Public Works and Infrastructure departments.