The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development on Wednesday said it hoped to complete its proposed Gauteng Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (GIIMP) for South Africa’s most populous province by year-end.
Speaking at a public consultation workshop, which is being held in Sandton from February 6 to 8 to invite stakeholder input and participation, Gauteng infrastructure development MEC Qedani Mahlangu said the province hoped to initiate implementation of the plan, which would progress Gauteng’s development, by next year.
The three-day workshop was the first step to developing a 2055 infrastructure vision for the province and the information gathered would form the basis for the development of the GIIMP.
Gauteng currently had a population of 12.3-million people, up 33.7% on the 9.2-million inhabitants recorded in 2001, while an inward migration of two- to three-million people was forecast to occur in the coming years.
With an area of 18 000 km2, Gauteng was the smallest province, but housed the fastest-growing population of all nine provinces, which made for difficult planning, said University of Johannesburg Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment and electrical engineering professor Tshilidzi Marwala.
An accurate interpretation of space and population growth, as well as educational, water and energy needs, besides others, was required, along with the determination of what infrastructure interventions and innovations should be pursued.
The consultation aimed to ascertain the economic powerhouse’s future water, energy, transport, education, health and telecommunications requirements to either maintain a high standard of life or improve the wellbeing of current and future residents, while stimulating economic growth and development and job creation.
Experts in the fields of demography, economics, engineering, governance, environment and technology, besides others, gathered in Sandton this week to help develop solutions and provide recommendations.
Last year, the City of Tshwane tabled its 'South Africa's Capital 2055' draft plan for public comment, and outlined a long-term strategy framework to alter and redefine the capital city’s development path.
The strategy aimed to ensure the development of an integrated, well-connected, well-governed, well-managed, modernised city and included among its aims infrastructure-led development; strengthening key economic clusters to gain leverage from growth trends in manufacturing; government and business services; and developing a sustainable low-carbon environment, as well as safe, healthy and balanced communities.