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<\/a><\/p>\nThe general fall in infrastructure investment mirrors the long-term stagnation in the construction industry, Stats SA said. Construction experienced its eighth consecutive quarter of economic decline in the second quarter of 2020, according to the latest gross domestic product (GDP) figures.<\/p>\n
“Infrastructure development is important. Economic infrastructure (e.g. electricity and water supply, transport, communications) and social infrastructure (e.g. schools, universities, hospitals) provide a foundation for economic and social activity,” the statistics body said.<\/p>\n
“Infrastructure development is one of many dimensions to achieving sustainable growth in GDP and, accordingly, expanding the labour market; provided that it\u2019s directed towards areas of greatest need. The statistics on infrastructure investment will continue to attract much interest and attention.”<\/p>\n
Stats SA outlined some of the more egregious issues below:<\/p>\n
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- North West<\/strong> – The North West provincial government recorded a fall of R486 million in capital expenditure. The North West Department of Education was the most significant contributor to this decrease, recording a cut of R398 million on the construction of school buildings and other fixed structures. The slow implementation of projects in North West was the reason behind the fall in spending, according to the department\u2019s annual report.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- KZN<\/strong> – KZN\u2019s decline was mainly due to underspending on road infrastructure. The provincial Department of Transport was the main contributor to the R458 million fall, decreasing its own capital spending by R387 million. The transport department stated in its annual report that this was due to a number of reasons, including a delay in finalising the department\u2019s participation in a road contract based in eThekwini. There was also a setback in the awarding of a large road rehabilitation tender. The department was flooded with a high volume of bids for the tender, slowing down the evaluation process and resulting in payment delays.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Limpopo<\/strong> – Limpopo provincial government recorded a decline of R447 million, largely the result of the provincial Department of Education spending less on infrastructure projects. There were delays in the construction and completion of new schools, according to the department\u2019s annual report. Various projects were also reprioritised, causing delays in the allocation of new maintenance and service delivery work to contractors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Gauteng<\/strong> – The decline in capital expenditure in Gauteng was also driven largely by a fall in education spending. The province recorded a decline in the construction of new school buildings and renovations. The provincial Department of Education stated in its annual report that the underspending was caused by underperforming contractors, community disruptions, bad weather conditions and delays brought on by service providers. Provincial government is not the only sector that has cut back on capital expenditure. Data covering the entire public sector shows an 8,2% fall in infrastructure investment in 2018. This was on the back of a 4,0% decline in 2017. With these decreases, public-sector capital spending slipped to a level last seen in 2014.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Gauteng<\/strong> – The decline in capital expenditure in Gauteng was also driven largely by a fall in education spending. The province recorded a decline in the construction of new school buildings and renovations. The provincial Department of Education stated in its annual report that the underspending was caused by underperforming contractors, community disruptions, bad weather conditions and delays brought on by service providers. Provincial government is not the only sector that has cut back on capital expenditure. Data covering the entire public sector shows an 8,2% fall in infrastructure investment in 2018. This was on the back of a 4,0% decline in 2017. With these decreases, public-sector capital spending slipped to a level last seen in 2014.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Limpopo<\/strong> – Limpopo provincial government recorded a decline of R447 million, largely the result of the provincial Department of Education spending less on infrastructure projects. There were delays in the construction and completion of new schools, according to the department\u2019s annual report. Various projects were also reprioritised, causing delays in the allocation of new maintenance and service delivery work to contractors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- KZN<\/strong> – KZN\u2019s decline was mainly due to underspending on road infrastructure. The provincial Department of Transport was the main contributor to the R458 million fall, decreasing its own capital spending by R387 million. The transport department stated in its annual report that this was due to a number of reasons, including a delay in finalising the department\u2019s participation in a road contract based in eThekwini. There was also a setback in the awarding of a large road rehabilitation tender. The department was flooded with a high volume of bids for the tender, slowing down the evaluation process and resulting in payment delays.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n