R1tn for infrastructure: South Africa's new budget promises growth if maintenance keeps pace

Source: Supplied. Stephan Kornelius, business lead: Pragma Professional Services.

Maintaining infrastructure spending levels – particularly for energy, water, rail, and ports – signals a positive commitment to economic growth stimulation, but only if the critical issues around asset maintenance, skills retention, and regulatory environments are properly addressed.

The fact that infrastructure and energy spending weren't cut, while other areas like social grants saw reductions, demonstrates that the government is serious about using infrastructure as an economic catalyst.

The budget's immediate focus on power transmission infrastructure is welcome, but these are long-term, expensive assets with 40 to 50-year lifespans. Without proper maintenance planning, we risk repeating past mistakes if infrastructure investment is not viewed holistically across the entire asset lifecycle.

Too often, we've seen substantial funds allocated through mechanisms like the Municipal Infrastructure Grant only for those assets that require complete rebuilding within five years due to poor maintenance. This pattern represents an inefficient use of already limited resources.

Government needs to make long-term maintenance capability a prerequisite for infrastructure funding. Before approving projects, the Treasury should require comprehensive maintenance plans and dedicated operational capacity to ensure infrastructure achieves its full economic lifespan. This approach would dramatically improve the return on investment for these critical assets.

The shortage of relevant technical skills has affected our infrastructure challenges. The good news is that the private sector has the technical expertise to maintain and construct these assets. In addition, there's a substantial willingness in the private sector to partner with the government on infrastructure projects, provided appropriate control mechanisms are established.

Public-private partnerships that leverage privatesector capabilities while ensuring proper governance could significantly enhance infrastructure development and maintenance outcomes.

While the budget appears investor-friendly by not increasing corporate tax rates, regulations surrounding the budget are equally important for business confidence and investment. The regulatory environment often determines whether businesses thrive, not tax rates alone.

The current regulatory complexity often creates unnecessary obstacles for companies eager to contribute to national development. As a fundamental principle, the government should set clear rules, apply them transparently, and then allow private industry to operate efficiently.

Funding mechanisms

The Minister's mention of new debt instruments like energy and infrastructure bonds is noteworthy. These financing vehicles could attract significant investment from sovereign funds and institutional investors, potentially easing the government's debt burden.

Investors in such instruments will have specific expectations regarding governance and asset management and will need assurances that we are responsible spenders with the capacity to properly maintain infrastructure assets if we are to attract this level of investment. Without such confidence, financing costs will become prohibitively expensive.

The budget's prioritisation of infrastructure spending is commendable, and we are optimistic that if the government can create a transparent contracting environment, ensure proper maintenance planning, and reform regulations to facilitate skills development and remove obstacles, the budget could result in significant economic benefits.

Pragma, along with others in the private sector, is keen to partner with the government to ensure that South Africa's infrastructure investments can finally deliver the sustained economic growth and job creation our country desperately needs.