An artist impression of the Ashburton interchange.
An artist impression of the Ashburton interchange. Source: SANRAL
  • Plans for 51 infrastructure projects have been gazetted, in order to fast-track the approvals required to get them off the ground quickly.
  • Approvals (including municipal rezoning and water rights) should be secured within 56 days, and all of the projects should be launched within the next three months.
  • The new projects include many water developments, fish farming and a satellite hub.
  • For more articles, go to www.BusinessInsider.co.za.

Government has gazetted details of 51 infrastructure projects that have been declared strategically important, and will be fast-tracked to secure the necessary approvals (including municipal rezoning and water rights) within 56 days.

During a briefing on Monday, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, head of the Infrastructure Investment Office in the Presidency, said that work on the projects should start within the next three months, or at the very least tenders should have been issued in this time. The projects are being fast-tracked to bolster job creation and the economy following the havoc wreaked by the coronavirus crisis.

Of the R340 billion needed to develop the projects, the necessary sovereign guarantees and approvals for increased borrowing have been secured, and funding has been agreed with private-sector banks and development organisations.

Many of the projects – particularly in housing – will be financed by private-sector partners.

Here are the projects that will be fast-tracked:

Water and sanitation 

Some R106 billion has been committed to water projects in all nine provinces, and 25,000 jobs are expected to be created.

Vaal River System including Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project: Gauteng

Phase 2A of the Mokolo Crocodile River (West) Augmentation Project: Limpopo

Mokolo dam. Photo: Aurecon

Some 160km of pipeline, and pump stations to move water down it, will be built from the Mokolo dam in the mountains south of Lephalale. This will ensure more water to the local municipality – and secure water for the Medupi and Matimba power stations. It will also supply water to surrounding mines.

uMkhomazi Water Project: KwaZulu-Natal

Olifants River Water Resource Development Project - Phase 2: Limpopo

Vaal-Gamagara: Northern Cape

Mzimvubu Water Project: Eastern Cape

Rehabilitation of the Vaalharts-Taung Irrigation Scheme: Northern Cape & North West

Groot Letaba River Water Development Project - Nwamitwa Dam: Limpopo

Berg River Voëlvlei Augmentation Scheme: Western Cape

Rustfontein Water Treatment Works: Free State

Orange-Riet Canal Increase of Bulk Raw Water Supply: Free State

The project will increase bulk raw-water supply to Letsemang, and help to support agricultural and renewable energy projects.

Energy

Allocations worth R58 billion will be fast tracked, and 6,000 jobs will be created.

Emergency/Risk Mitigation Power Purchase Procurement Programme (after installation, these sustainable energy producers should deliver  2000MW in power)

Small IPP Power Purchase Procurement Programme (100MW)

Embedded Generation Investment Programme (EGIP)-4 00MW

Transport

Projects worth R47 billion have been approved, to create 50,000 jobs

N1 Windburg Interchange to Windburg Station: Free State

N1 Musina Ring Road: Limpopo

N1 Polokwane Eastern Ring Rd Phase 2: Limpopo

N1 Ventersburg to Kroonstad: Free State

N2 Mtunzini Toll Plaza to Empangeni T-Junction: KwaZulu-Natal

N3 Cato Ridge to Dardanelles: KwaZulu-Natal

N3 Dardenelles to Lynnfield Park: KwaZulu-Natal

N3 Paradise Valley to Mariannhill Toll Plaza: KwaZulu-Natal

N2 Edwin Swales to South of EB Cloete Interchange: KwaZulu-Natal

N3 Ashburton Interchange to Murray Road: KwaZulu-Natal

The upgrade of this section of the N3 highway will allow the road to accommodate the increase in traffic volumes expected over the next 30 years.

N3 Mariannhill Toll Plaza to Key Ridge: KwaZulu-Natal

N2 EB Cloete Interchange: KwaZulu-Natal

Small Harbours Development: National

N3 New alignment via De Beers Pass: Free State

Boegoebaai Port and Rail Infrastructure Project: Northern Cape

Satellite hub

Some R4 billion will be used to develop satellite infrastructure, including “earth observation satellites” and satellite bases. 

"Domestic access to this type of infrastructure will reduce South Africa’s reliance on other countries for the type of information that these satellites can make available and is expected to reduce the timeframes for collecting necessary data,” government said previously. It is estimated that the investment will generate R1.38 billion in GDP in the first year.

This should create 700 jobs.

Agriculture and Agro-processing

Some R7 billion will be invested, which should create 4,000 jobs.

Marine Tilapia Industry: Eastern Cape

One project that was previously touted is a farm that will breed tilapia fish in the rural Mbashe municipality. The project could inject close to R600 million into the country’s economy every year, government said recently.

Natural Dehydrated Foods: Mpumalanga

Affordable housing

Some R139 billion will be invested in these projects, with an estimated 190,000 jobs that will be created.

Greater Cornubia: KwaZulu-Natal

The Cornubia development. Source: Tongaat Hulett

Situated 7km from King Shaka International Airport, the Greater Cornubia project will include 58,000 houses, as well as industrial and commercial properties. The Cornubia development is a joint venture between the eThekwini Municipality and Tongaat Hulett, and covers 1,300 hectares.

Vista Park II & III: Free State

Lufhereng: Gauteng

Malibongwe Ridge: Gauteng

N2 Nodal Development: Eastern Cape

Matlosana N12 West: North West

Green Creek: Gauteng

Mooikloof Mega Residential City: Gauteng

Fochville Extension 11: Gauteng

Germiston Ext 4 Social Housing Project: Gauteng

Newcastle Hospital Street Social Housing Project: KwaZulu Natal

Hull Street Social Housing Project Phase Northern Cape

Kwandokuhle Social Housing Project: Mpumalanga

Phola Heights - Tembisa Social Housing Project: Gauteng

Sondela Phase 2: Gauteng

Willow Creek Estate: Mpumalanga

Joe's Place Social Housing: Gauteng

Jeppestown Social Housing Project (Unity House): Gauteng

Special projects:

Rural Bridges “Welisizwe” Programme

This programme will “upscale” pedestrian bridges in “far-flung” rural areas.

Rural Roads Upgrade Programme

With 80% of South Africa’s 780,000km road infrastructure still gravel roads, this is a priority, Ramokgopa said.

Repair of Township Roads in Municipalities Programme

PV and Water Savings on Government Buildings Programme

Comprehensive Urban Management Programme

Digitising of Government Information Programme

Some 10,000 young people will be employed to digitise government information, including hospital files and police dockets.

Removal of Alien Vegetation and Innovative Building Materials Programme

National Upgrading Support Programme (NUSP)

The NUSP is aimed at upgrading informal settlements.

Solar Water Initiatives Programme

Student Accommodation

SA Connect Phase 1B

This involves government's plan to roll out broadband to more communities.

Salvokop Precinct

This is a big new property development in Tshwane, which will house government departments and commercial buildings.

Of the 51 projects, Gauteng will see the big allocation of new developments:

Source: Department of Public Works and Infrastructure

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