Development finance institution the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has implemented 1 345, and completed 186, infrastructure-related projects at municipalities around the country, it said on Tuesday.

Strategic operations executive manager Gwede Mantashe told reporters that this had "made a huge difference" to these municipalities.

The bank provided project management expertise, assisted in the preparation of technical reports, and also dealt with issues surrounding contract management in municipalities.

The DBSA was now also present in 101 municipalities, where it had deployed 118 employees, DBSA's Development Fund CE Paul Kibuuka stated.

"Our first target was to deal with 136 Project Consolidate municipalities, and we are now present in 101 municipalities," he said.

Angolan, Tanzanian investments

Meanwhile, DBSA had spent R143-million on projects in Angola in the year ended March, representing 2,7% of its total spending, and R222-million on Tanzanian projects, equal to just over 4% of the bank's total expenditure for the year.

"These are very exciting countries for us, they are new markets," chief economist Admassu Tadesse said.

DBSA was only allowed to spend one-third of its total expenditure in countries other than South Africa, and had reached 24%, allowing it some room to grow, he added.