Infrastructure needs boost

Challenges are ageing, ineffective framework.

- Siseko Maposa

In recent times, the construction industry has been beset by severe turbulence, marked by a 3.1% decline in the first quarter of 2024, as reported by Statistics SA, which contributed to a 0.1% contraction in national economic growth.

This contraction, the fourth consecutive quarter of decline, signals a prolonged downturn in the industry's business cycle.

The sector has been grappling with a myriad of challenges, including seasonal fluctuations, high capital costs, elevated interest rates and inefficiencies in local government approval processes for building plans.

At the same time, South Africa faces advanced challenges of ageing and ineffective electricity, water and sanitation, roads and railway infrastructure.

It is clear that South Africa's construction and infrastructure sector requires significant and sustainable stimulus.

With the new government called on to address the sector's challenges, a critical question remains: can it develop and implement policies, programmes and projects that can drive a sustainable infrastructure boom? John Maynard Keynes'