[ Home ] [ Speeches & statements ]

21 May 2008

The Minister of Public Works, Ms Thoko Didiza, MP, has today, 21 May 2008, unveiled government's intervention strategy to curb the state of dilapidation of state fixed assets and infrastructure called National Infrastructure Maintenance Strategy (NIMS) that will affect all spheres of government including parastatals. This groundbreaking initiative of government was pronounced just hours before her annual Budget Vote speech in the National Assembly.

NIMS is part of Asgisa (Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa) - under which government recognised the importance of the maintenance of its infrastructure and the role that effective maintenance will play in support of economic growth, social development and effective service deliver, hence the maintenance programme of government as a self contained industry.

To give a sense of the challenge lying ahead, almost 30 percent of the buildings owned by the state were in a poor to very poor condition, as compared to 25 percent which were good to very good, according to the Departmental Strategic Plan document (2008/11).

To that effect cabinet has since tasked the National Department of Public Works to lead the drafting and the implementation of the programme to deliver on the strategy that will eventually contribute to the attainment of AsgiSA objectives. The strategy was then approved by cabinet in August 2006 and draws extensively on a framework document developed by the Department of Public Works, the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

"Even our department has been tasked with leading the implementation of the programme to deliver on the strategy; we will need all government institutions to come to the party if we are to make a success of this task," Minister Didiza elaborated.

Subsequent to that, the minister will proceed to present her Budget Vote to the National Assembly, covering details of the major programmes under her department, most notably the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP); the State Asset Portfolio Management as well as transformation updates regarding both the construction and property industries.

This year, the departmental budget stands at four point one billion rand (R4 141 402 000) of which three point one billion rand (R3 195 491 000) will go towards the provision of land and accommodation-related solutions to government in fulfilment of our mandate to contribute to improved public service delivery. Our clients remain the executive that is the Presidency and Cabinet as well as the Legislature and the Judiciary, and the property we attend to is state assets.

"Budget by its definition is a limitation and as a department we believe that over the years we have demonstrated tenacity to deliver maximum results, a feat born of our experience and expertise in the industries we operate in. Possessed by the spirit of celebrating excellence, we believe that the budget allocation it is an impetus to spur us to unleash our mandate (and functions) in an unusual business manner to fast track development" added the Deputy Minister of Public Works, Mr Ntopile Kganyago.

Enquiries:
Thami Mchunu
Cell: 079 519 6997

Trodger Thebe
Cell: 082 908 1850

Issued by: Department of Public Works
21 May 2008