The National Infrastructure Plan (2012) aims to transform the South African economic landscape while simultaneously creating significant numbers of new jobs, and strengthening the delivery of basic services. The plan also supports the integration of African economies.
The Sustainable Infrastructure Handbook is South Africa’s peer-reviewed reference resource for infrastructure stakeholders in South Africa and will be breaking new ground in 2013:
• The Handbook will focus specifically on sustainable infrastructure development in Southern Africa
• The Handbook will incorporate the socio-economic agenda and will seek to drive discussions around best practice in planning, financing, development, construction, utilization, social integration, servicing, and deconstruction of key infrastructure projects.
• The Handbook will be published in high quality A5 format in order to maximize use and readership. 6000 hard-copies will be produced and the digital version will be circulated widely to the Alive2green sustainability databases and to key affiliate databases.
Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan announced in his 2013 Budget Speech that government will invest R827 billion in building new, as well as upgrading, existing infrastructure. These investments are in line with the National Infrastructure Plan (2012) and will result in increased accessibility by South Africans to healthcare facilities, schools, water, sanitation, housing and electrification. Investment in the construction of ports, roads, railway systems, electricity plants, hospitals,
schools and dams will contribute to faster economic growth in the country. Some interesting infrastructure project examples that are in the pipeline for South Africa include the Father Smagaliso Mkhatshwa Secure Care Centre and the
Magaliesburg Boarding School facility that is expected to be completed by August 2013. Projects such as the Trigeneration plant have been proposed for the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital to reduce the energy costs of the facility by using natural gas. A total of 8million square meters of roof top space on government buildings have been identified as areas that can be potentially used for solar energy. The 21st century calls for Africa to rise to the socioeconomic challenges of the new era of both responding to renewed world interest to trade with countries on the continent, as well as unlock each country’s potential.
The Sustainable Infrastructure Handbook offers readers:
• Chapters from sector thought leaders and stakeholders
• The best practical sector related learning material possible
• Regional information about infrastructure projects, department objectives, economic development, leadership and engagement opportunities
• Advice and guidance on materials, technologies and construction techniques
• Illustrated case study analysis of projects and interventions in South Africa
• Relevant products and service provider information in the form of advertisements and organizational profiles