Conclusion

The discussions with the construction industry have highlighted that South Africa must move away from a public-sector driven economy to one in which PPPs play a more predominant role. Government must acknowledge that it alone cannot create the jobs that are required to place the economy on a path of faster economic growth. Instead, a conducive environment must be created for the private sector to flourish and to attract the investment that is required.

There is also a unanimous view that failing municipalities, often run by staff and managers who do not have the required skills set or who lack ethical leadership, must be fixed urgently to unleash a new wave of development. To achieve this vision, the private sector should be roped-in to partner with municipalities to better leverage private-sector expertise, capacity and experience. The restoration of working municipalities is key to a working and growing economy.

Overall, process must be kept simple and transparent. This must include keeping tender and approval procedures simple, and streamlining PPPs to maximise efficiency and remove bottlenecks to development.