SONA promises need to translate into action for construction industry

In his State of the Nation (SONA) address, the president highlighted the top issues facing the country, among these loadshedding, crime and corruption and unemployment, issues that have impacted the construction industry negatively over the past two decades.

Following the president’s address, GVK-Siya Zama CEO, Eben Meyburgh, says while it may be difficult to remain positive under the circumstances, it is essential to do so. “It is critical that we, as an industry and citizens of South Africa, also remain hopeful and, above all, resourceful in the current landscape.

“The private sector must lead the charge for change. That means all of us, the independently owned, the self-funded and the entrepreneurial – organisations that are led by men and women who believe in this country and spend every day making a difference to their own lives and the lives of others.”

In his SONA address, the president highlighted numerous infrastructure development projects (worth about R232 billion) that are underway or on the cards for 2023, most notably the allocation of R600 million to infrastructure development in rural and under-resourced areas.

Meyburgh says the construction industry would have welcomed the same commitment to infrastructure development being made to the prioritisation and escalation of the planning and delivery of built spaces by the Department of Public Works.

“Government projects are a major source of work for the industry, which in turn is a key provider of jobs – crucial in a country that has been battling high rates of unemployment for decades.”

On the anticipated budget speech, Meyburgh expects that “Much will be said, but business is looking for realistic commitments and tangible action.”

Commenting on the president’s announcement of a state of disaster in the face of the loadshedding crisis, Meyburgh says ‘if it eases the country’s loadshedding woes anytime soon, it would have been a good idea.”