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INSIGHT: Action needed to ease the burden on South Africa’s water systems

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The combination of rapid urbanization, climate change and droughts, high water demand and aging infrastructure has severely strained local water systems. This strain has resulted in water shortages, water-shedding, and the growing threat of water-shedding. According to Olebogeng Manhe, Chairman of the Gap Infrastructure Corporation (GIC) to tackle the growing pressure on water systems, both short-term and long-term measures are required. While short-term steps may not prevent water-shedding completely, they can provide immediate relief and buy time for long-term solutions to be implemented. Improving existing water infrastructure is a crucial part of the long-term solution. Significant investments are needed to upgrade or replace aging infrastructure, especially in rapidly growing towns and cities. However, the public sector alone may not have the resources to meet these financial demands, which is where public-private partnerships (PPPs) come into play. PPPs play a vital role in mana
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Time for a comprehensive skills plan for infrastructure, in the UK

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Civils contractors in UK have called for the development of a dedicated skills plan for the infrastructure sector. With recent announcements by  President Cyril Ramaphosa on planned large infrastructure projects do we have enough skills to cope or does this call apply to South Africa as well?

Time for a comprehensive skills plan for infrastructure, in the UK

Results from the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA)’s Workload Trends Survey for 2019 Q4 show that 52% of British firms, on balance, reported supply issues with skilled operatives, the highest in nearly five years.

The most commonly reported dissatisfaction with supply in the last quarter of 2019 was for skilled operatives in England (52%), Scotland (63%), and Wales (36%).

CECA chief executive Alasdair Reisner said: “CECA’s Workload Trends Survey is one of the most comprehensive barometers of the state of our industry. Our members are reporting continued difficulties with the supply of suitable workers, which should set alarm-bells ringing in Whitehall, Holyrood, and Cardiff.

“The pipeline of planned investment in the infrastructure sector is of a sufficient scale to be transformative to the whole of the UK economy, but unless the workforce is sufficiently skilled in all parts of the UK, our members will be unable to deliver it to its full potential.

“Industry and government at all levels must co-operate now to put in place a comprehensive skills plan for the infrastructure sector, both to upskill the existing workforce and attract new entrants to the industry, if we are going to be able to deliver the ‘infrastructure revolution’ we need, and secure the British economy in the coming years.”

This article was first published here

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