Innovative models are needed to fix local infrastructure

This past week, more than 87 000 people descended on Nampo Park in Bothaville for the annual harvest day festival and exhibition.

- Theo Boshoff

It was a fantastic event and credit must go to the Grain SA team who once again put this together with the greatest amount of skill and determination.

The event is certainly growing as a highlight on the agriculture calendar as President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, and two Cabinet ministers were in attendance.

It is really encouraging to see the interest and commitment from our government leaders. The only regret, I imagine, is that these dignitaries arrived by air and bypassed the local roads to arrive at Nampo.

When the captains of industry were given the chance to engage with our top political leaders, they jumped at the opportunity to speak about the poor state of rural roads and service delivery as the biggest challenge facing the industry.

It's not hard to imagine why. Once inside the gates, attendees can marvel at the innovation, investment and progress taking place in the agriculture sector. If you compare this with the environment outside the gates, you are faced with crumbling road infrastructure, and unused and dilapidated railways.

Something needs to change and that change can only take place with the assistance of the private sector.

One of the panels in which I participated for Nation in Conversation focused on precisely this point. I was joined on the panel by colleagues from Infrastructure SA, the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) and Transnet.