Infrastructure is the lifeline of the GNU

AS SOUTH Africa's Government of National Unity (GNU) charts its course despite challenges, the spotlight remains on delivery, and few areas are as urgent or promising as infrastructure.

- EMEKA UMECHE

The stark reality is undeniable: despite years of investment and policy reform, much of South Africa's economic infrastructure continues to underperform. As President Cyril Ramaphosa candidly acknowledged in his State of the Nation address this year, "In many cities and towns across the country, roads are not maintained, water and electricity supply is often disrupted, refuse is not collected and sewage runs in the streets."

These challenges are evident in three key sectors:

Energy infrastructure

Eskom has shown modest improvements but continues to grapple with significant operational challenges. A recent report by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research shows that load shedding cost the South African economy approximately R2.9 trillion in 2023. While load shedding has become less frequent, "load reduction" continues to affect previously disadvantaged communities disproportionately, widening existing inequality gaps.

Water infrastructure

The Department of Water and Sanitation has reported alarming water losses in municipalities, averaging 41% due to theft, leaks and bad management. The breakdown in water infrastructure requires a fundamentally different approach to energy challenges, given that water is a finite resource in an already water-stressed country. The economic ramifications of water shortages are particularly severe, with some municipalities unable to support industrial expansion due to insufficient supply capacity.

Logistics infrastructure