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The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) will deliver on the mandate given to it by the Premier in his State of the Province Address.

In that address, the Premier gave the clearest indication that the Gauteng Provincial Government has changed the service delivery gear. We now have moved towards a more radical approach to the transformation agenda thus making it clear that our people deserve better and we cannot afford to fail them.

This is even more so given that Gauteng is the economic hub of South Africa, contributing about 36% of the Gross domestic product (GDP).

The departmental voted funds have increased form R1.6 billion in 2013/14 financial year to R2 billion in 2014/15 financial year. This represents an 8% increase on the appropriated funds. Over and above the R2 billion allocated for the 2014/15 financial year, DID is managing projects of the client department valued at R3 billion.

To deliver on this task; we need a solid organisation, accurate strategy, reliable systems and precise planning. In the past financial year, we developed an organisational blueprint based on the Infrastructure Delivery Management System (in short the IDMS). The IDMS is our business model that will provide a standardised framework to ensure infrastructure delivery.

We are pleased to announce that over the 2014/5 medium term expenditure framework (MTEF), the Provincial Treasury has allocated R600 million to our department to fully implement the IDMS. In this financial year, R150 million has been allocated for IDMS. This will, amongst other things, allow the department to recruit qualified built environment professionals in areas such as engineering, architects, quantity surveyors, and artisans.

In this financial year, we plan to fill 250 IDMS aligned positions; this will also lessen our dependence on consultants. We are also resolved on using available resources to ensure that we develop appropriate and robust business systems and processes that will strengthen the institutional capacity of the department.

We have identified the following six strategic themes for the medium term and will run through the core of our business and will be aligned to the 10 strategic pillars as announced by the Premier:

• Sustainable Infrastructure.
• Accelerate service delivery.
• Organisational development for building state capacity.
• Optimise state assets for economic development and supporting entrepreneurs.
• Empowering communities through job creation in partnership with the public and private sector.
• Integrated planning. 

We accept the challenge that going forward it cannot be business as usual; we need radical interventions to drive the transformation agenda. 

In line with these strategic themes, as part of our response to the strategic priorities of the GPG, the department identified the following interventions as game changers:

• Development of a complete Immovable Asset Register.
• Implementation of Maintenance Turn-Around strategy.
• Development of Smart Class Room Designs.
• Development of Standard Health Infrastructure Designs.
• Implementation of IDMS as a turnaround intervention for the department.
• The Gauteng Planning House.
• Gauteng Integrated Infrastructure Master plan (GIIMP); and Implementation of the Green Agenda.

These initiatives will be implemented with the intension to optimise socio-economic development spin offs for the benefit of our people.

In order to support the line functions of the department, an amount of R296, 83 million has been allocated to the Administration Programme. The total allocation for compensation of employees is R737, 9 million. This allocation has to be seen in context of a total responsibility of R4, 9 billion that has to be administered by our department.

In order to improve project implementation and monitoring, but also to ensure modernisation of the Public Service, the department will implement a monitoring tool (i.e. Dashboard/Project-Eye) to monitor delivery of various projects during all the project stages on a daily basis from planning, supply chain management to completion and works hand-over. This will be a complete project monitoring system, which will:

• Inform of the planning status
• Supply Chain status and Procurement status
• Project Expenditure Monitoring
• Cash-flow forecasts
• Timelines and Milestones
• Projects Status -quo and progress
• Progress Visuals
• Project Portfolio of evidence (i.e.: Completion certificates
• Tender adverts, etc.)

The Dashboard will serve as a “Project Eye,” which will meticulously monitor the delivery of all infrastructure projects therein ensuring that reporting on projects is transparent.

The establishment of the Dashboard is complete and the uploading of data and implementation is in progress and due for completion in the next sixty calendar days.

In order to implement our programmes and projects, the department has been allocated an amount of R1,976 billion for the 2014/15 financial year.

In addition, the department will manage capital projects to the value of R2, 419 billion, whilst an amount of R767 million is earmarked for critical maintenance work giving us just above R4,9 billion to administer.

We will undertake various programmes for the Department of Education, namely the new Infrastructure programme, rehabilitation and refurbishment, upgrading and additions, which includes new schools, Fencing, Grade R, Septic Tanks and Upgrades of Full Service Schools. These programmes have an allocation of R1,36 billion for the 2014/15 financial year.

The Smart Schools Programme in Gauteng is born and the DID has been involved in the implementation of the Schools Generic Prototype since 2008. We are developing prototype designs for new schools based on Smart Class Room concept and the recently gazetted Education Infrastructure Norms and Standards. The Smart Schools will incorporate technological learning in classrooms boasting connectivity, promethean boards, visual screens and technology training centres.

We will also kick-start the construction of 11 new schools, which are currently at tender stage.

The department will implement 119 projects on behalf of the Department of Health commencing this financial year. These projects have a total allocation of R466.7 million. DID will also commence with the construction of various projects including the New Daveyton Forensic Pathology Mortuary, Charlotte Maxeke, Revitalisation of Staff Residences - Blocks A, D & E, Natalspruit Staff Residence, New Lillian Ngoyi District Hospital, Boikutsong Community Day Care Clinic and Bonalesedi Nursing College. We will also complete the construction of the New Randgate Clinic.

The department is responsible for the maintenance of Health Facilities in the Province. The maintenance budget is R1.121 billion for the 2014/15 financial year. DID has over the past year implemented appropriate systems to deal with maintenance of health facilities through the introduction of the e-Maintenance system, “Just-in-Time” Maintenance Materials Management System in partnership with the private sector and a rotational system for appointing service providers from an established database.

I am pleased to announce that Phase One of the construction of the Women’s Living Monument in Tshwane has been completed. Phase 2 of construction has commenced and an amount of R180 million has been allocated in this financial year towards completion of the project.

DID will implement projects on behalf of the following departments to the value of R242 million:

• Social Development R115 million.
• DRT R110 million.
• GDARD R17 million.

Concerning Property Management, which is one of our key responsibility of the department in the 2014/15 financial year amounts to R745 million. Through the Immovable Asset Register project started in 2013, due for completion in 2016, the department has to date verified 37 339 assets.

We are developing strategies to optimise revenue generated by leveraging on Government buildings. To this effect DID is exploring the usage of Government infrastructure for advertising purposes. A further strategy is being developed to look at optimising revenue through other facilities, for instance, communication masts, towers and dishes hosted on Government infrastructure.

The Kopanong Precinct Project is a concept initiated to consolidate all Government administrative processes for efficient service delivery. This project aims to provide accommodation facilities for Government departments within the Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD).

DID is leading the implementation of this initiative through a Public Private Partnership model and we are working closely with the Gauteng Provincial Treasury and the Gauteng Funding Agency. The appointment of a Transaction Advisor, who will provide technical assistance in conducting the feasibility and the “PPP” process, has been completed. The appointment of the Project Officer is expected by the end of September 2014. 

Government is serious about tackling the challenge of unemployment. To this end, the department is currently rolling out the Zivuseni Reloaded Poverty Alleviation Programme, which has a target of recruiting 4 000 beneficiaries for this financial year and anticipates to spend over R70 million in relation to stipends.

The types of projects considered in the programme include minor maintenance services, which include hospitals and clinics, the environment and culture, water and sanitation and social development projects. The department has accepted the challenge to expand Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) so that we achieve the objectives of creating over 1 million work opportunities in the next 5 years.

In this financial year, we will work to develop and Exit Strategy for EPWP beneficiaries so that we assist them to progress into better quality jobs and other entrepreneurship opportunities.

Furthermore, the department will be working with all key stakeholders in the province to develop and implement the Tshepo 500 000 Programme, as announced by the Premier. This programme, which is intended to create massive work opportunities for the targeted groups, will be launched in March 2015.

During this financial year, DID will recruit 2500 youth beneficiaries to participate in the National Youth Service Programme (NYS), this programme provide opportunities for the youth to gain skills and experience in the work place. To resolve the historic challenges of the payment of stipends to EPWP beneficiaries, the department will introduce a payroll system supported by biometrics. To this effect an allocation of R63 million has been allocated for payment of stipends