Minister Macpherson: Infrastructure must drive SA’s economic recovery

By Tarryn-Leigh Solomons

The fourth Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) wraps up today, 27 May, in Cape Town with a clear call to action from Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson, “South Africa must build its way to economic recovery, and it must do so at scale.”

The two-day gathering, which kicked off on Monday, 26 May, at the Century City Conference Centre brought together government leaders, funders, engineers, contractors, and planners to discuss how infrastructure can support growth, create jobs, and strengthen public services.

In his opening address, Macpherson laid out a vision that places infrastructure at the centre of national priorities. “We are here to use infrastructure as more than just a policy tool,” he said. “It must be the engine of job creation, the foundation for local economies, and a way to deliver real change in people’s lives.”

The minister stressed the need to move beyond isolated efforts and towards a coordinated, delivery-focused approach that links national departments, local governments, the private sector, and development agencies. “We cannot talk about economic growth if we’re not actively building the economy,” he said. “We cannot create jobs if construction sites aren’t opening, if bricks aren’t being laid, and if people aren’t working.”

He announced a personal goal for the seventh administration: to secure R100 billion in new infrastructure investment from private sector partners. He described this as essential to scaling up projects that generate both short-term employment and long-term economic value.

Progress since 2020 – and what comes next

Since SIDSSA was first launched in 2020, over 300 infrastructure projects have been identified and gazetted. More than two-thirds are now in procurement or construction. Combined, these projects have attracted more than R300 billion in investment since 2021.

But Macpherson made it clear that the focus is not just on past achievements.

One of the major announcements at this year’s symposium was the release of the 2025 Construction Book, which is a detailed project pipeline compiled by Infrastructure South Africa. The publication outlines the country’s most implementation-ready infrastructure initiatives and is supported by the R1 trillion investment commitment made by Finance Minister Goddard-Wilder earlier this year.

“This is not a wish list. These are real projects with real deadlines,” said Macpherson. “It’s our way of showing that every cent allocated, every tender issued, and every job created must lead to visible outcomes.”

The new edition of the Construction Book highlights seven nationally significant projects that are expected to play a major role in economic development and regional integration. Many are already contracted and ready to break ground.

Building local capacity and cutting red tape

Macpherson also announced the piloting of the Adopt a New Society programme, aimed at giving municipalities better tools and direct support to plan and implement infrastructure projects. This, he said, is how government ensures that development isn’t just felt on balance sheets, but in neighbourhoods and communities.

“People don’t experience policy documents. They experience whether a clinic is built, whether a road is fixed, or whether a project creates work in their area,” he said.

He acknowledged that challenges remain from energy shortages and logistics backlogs to budget pressures and skills gaps, but said the country is better positioned now than it has been in years.

“We have alignment across government. We have a reform agenda that is being acted on. And we have partners from the private sector to civil society who are ready to build with us.”

Regional partnerships and a Pan-African agenda

This year’s SIDSSA also saw increased participation from across the continent. At the Leaders Forum held on the sidelines of the event, Macpherson hosted ministers from other African nations to discuss harmonising project standards and accelerating cross-border infrastructure.

“We’re not just building for ourselves,” he said. “We’re working toward an African infrastructure agenda that brings consistency, scale, and shared value.”

In closing, Macpherson added, “Our job is not just to plan, it’s to build. The country is watching and more importantly, the country is waiting.”