Top priority infrastructure projects in South Africa

The government of South Africa has gazetted details of 51 top priority infrastructure projects in South Africa that have been declared strategically important, and will be fast-tracked to secure the necessary approvals within 56 days. The projects are expected to start within within the next three months upon the issuance of the relevant tenders. Below are the approved projects:

Also Read: Cornubia settlement project timeline and what you need to know

Priority infrastructure projects in South Africa

Water and sanitation

US $6.4bn has been approved for water projects in all nine provinces. The projects are expected to create 25,000. These projects include:

1. Vaal River System including Phase 2 of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project: Gauteng
2. Phase 2A of the Mokolo Crocodile River (West) Augmentation Project: Limpopo
3. uMkhomazi Water Project: KwaZulu-Natal
4. Olifants River Water Resource Development Project – Phase 2: Limpopo
5. Vaal-Gamagara: Northern Cape
6. Mzimvubu Water Project: Eastern Cape
7. Rehabilitation of the Vaalharts-Taung Irrigation Scheme: Northern Cape & North West
8. Groot Letaba River Water Development Project – Nwamitwa Dam: Limpopo
9. Berg River Voëlvlei Augmentation Scheme: Western Cape
10. Rustfontein Water Treatment Works: Free State
11. Orange-Riet Canal Increase of Bulk Raw Water Supply: Free State

Energy

US $3.5bn has been approved for Energy projects that will create 6,000 jobs.

1. Emergency/Risk Mitigation Power Purchase Procurement Programme (after installation, these sustainable energy producers should deliver  2000MW in power)
2. Small IPP Power Purchase Procurement Programme (100MW)
3. Embedded Generation Investment Programme (EGIP)-4 00MW

Transport

Transport projects worth US $2.9bn have been approved and they will create 50,000.

1. N1 Windburg Interchange to Windburg Station: Free State
2. N1 Musina Ring Road: Limpopo
3. N1 Polokwane Eastern Ring Rd Phase 2: Limpopo
4. N1 Ventersburg to Kroonstad: Free State
5. N2 Mtunzini Toll Plaza to Empangeni T-Junction: KwaZulu-Natal
6. N3 Cato Ridge to Dardanelles: KwaZulu-Natal
7. N3 Dardenelles to Lynnfield Park: KwaZulu-Natal
8. N3 Paradise Valley to Mariannhill Toll Plaza: KwaZulu-Natal
9. N2 Edwin Swales to South of EB Cloete Interchange: KwaZulu-Natal
10. 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.
11. N3 Mariannhill Toll Plaza to Key Ridge: KwaZulu-Natal
12. N2 EB Cloete Interchange: KwaZulu-Natal
13. Small Harbours Development: National
14. N3 New alignment via De Beers Pass: Free State
15. Boegoebaai Port and Rail Infrastructure Project: Northern Cape

Affordable housing

Some US $8.4bn will be invested in housing projects. The projects will create an estimated 190,000 jobs.

1. Greater Cornubia: KwaZulu-Natal. 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.
2. Vista Park II & III: Free State
3. Lufhereng: Gauteng
4. Malibongwe Ridge: Gauteng
5. N2 Nodal Development: Eastern Cape
6. Matlosana N12 West: North West
7. Green Creek: Gauteng
8. Mooikloof Mega Residential City: Gauteng
9. Fochville Extension 11: Gauteng
10. Germiston Ext 4 Social Housing Project: Gauteng
11. Newcastle Hospital Street Social Housing Project: KwaZulu Natal
12. Hull Street Social Housing Project Phase Northern Cape
13. Kwandokuhle Social Housing Project: Mpumalanga
14. Phola Heights – Tembisa Social Housing Project: Gauteng
15. Sondela Phase 2: Gauteng
16. Willow Creek Estate: Mpumalanga
17. Joe’s Place Social Housing: Gauteng
18. Jeppestown Social Housing Project (Unity House): Gauteng

Satellite hub

US $242.4m has been approved to develop satellite infrastructure, including “earth observation satellites” and satellite bases. This should create 700 jobs.

Agriculture and Agro-processing

Some US $424.2 will be invested in Agriculture and Agro-processing, which should create 4,000 jobs.

1. Marine Tilapia Industry: Eastern Cape. This farm will breed tilapia fish in the rural Mbashe municipality. The project could inject close to US $36.4m into the country’s economy every year, government said recently.
2. Natural Dehydrated Foods: Mpumalanga

Special projects:

1. Rural Bridges “Welisizwe” Programme. This programme will “upscale” pedestrian bridges in “far-flung” rural areas.
2. Rural Roads Upgrade Programme. With 80% of South Africa’s 780,000km road infrastructure still gravel roads, this is a priority.
3. Repair of Township Roads in Municipalities Programme
4. PV and Water Savings on Government Buildings Programme
5. Comprehensive Urban Management Programme
6. Digitising of Government Information Programme. Some 10,000 young people will be employed to digitise government information, including hospital files and police dockets.
7. Removal of Alien Vegetation and Innovative Building Materials Programme
8. National Upgrading Support Programme (NUSP). The NUSP is aimed at upgrading informal settlements.
9. Solar Water Initiatives Programme
10. Student Accommodation
11. SA Connect Phase 1B. This involves government’s plan to roll out broadband to more communities.
12. Salvokop Precinct. This is a big new property development in Tshwane, which will house government departments and commercial buildings.