Date: 18/01/2007
Source: Department of Public Works
Title: Kganyago: Construction Industry Development Board


Opening remarks by the Deputy Minister of Public Works, Mr Ntopile Kganyago, MP, at the Construction Industry Development Board business breakfast meeting, CSIR, Tshwane, Gauteng

The Programme Director,
Our distinguished guest,
Dr Martin Barnes,
Senior officials,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

The awarding of the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament to our country was a big vote of confidence to South Africa and its ability to host such an event. As this is a FIFA activity, South Africa as the host, needs to demonstrate world class characteristics including the provision of impeccable infrastructure to make this a successful investment.

Many decades of apartheid social and economic planning gave rise to a skewed infrastructure development trajectory which created a huge backlog not only in the delivery of such assets but also in the development of concomitant skills and capacity necessary to acquire, operate and maintain them. Our challenge, as a result is two-fold, namely to increase the quantity and quality of these structures and do so in a manner that will build our society and the economy, hence the location of infrastructure development in the centre of the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (AsgiSA) and the skills development programme of JIPSA (Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition).

Traditionally, the Department of Public Works is responsible for rolling out public infrastructure as part of social development meanwhile contributing to the growth, development and transformation of the construction industry which is privately operated. Over the years this mutual relationship between the public and private sectors of our economy has been solidified and today all the parties understand its necessity.

Our construction industry despite the throes of transformation is professional and capable and we are convinced that it will deliver superb construction-related sporting projects within the precepts of quality, specifications, time, innovation and budgets. On the other hand, government, particularly local government as a client, has geared itself to expediting the delivery timeframes such that process issues do not hold back swift progress. Therefore project management will be key as both the contractors and the clients learn to respect each other's space and responsibilities for the attainment of common interests.

As a country, we welcome any professional inputs such as the one Dr Martin Barnes will be sharing with us this morning. We believe such networking is important and should add value to our efforts.

Issued by: Department of Public Works
18 January 2007