The fourth annual Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA), kicked off in Cape Town this morning with President Cyril Ramaphosa being in attendance as he delivered the keynote address. The purpose of the symposium is to highlight key factors which will help build a sustainable economy for the country and for South Africa to integrate infrastructural growth with various other countries across the African continent, as well as opening investment opportunities for the continent at large.

On Monday, Department of Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Mcpherson told SAnews: “Today we will start off with our leaders summit in Cape Town, where all the African Ministers, MECs and Ministers from the South African government will be holding discussions on infrastructure and how important it is to economic development and growth”. There is a very big emphasis on the growth of South Africa’s infrastructure as the country is set on mending economic growth and stability by carrying out new projects which will help sustain the economic growth of South Africa. In recent years there has been a very big emphasis on Infrastructure in various municipalities with roads being filled with potholes and old abandoned buildings which are either desecrated or are not being utilized.Minister Mcpherson announced the implementation of the “Adopt a Municipality Programme” which aims for the National government to work hand in hand with various municipalities across the country in order to ensure that these infrastructural projects are carried out with precision and providing more job opportunities in the process. “It is when we adopt municipalities that we will be able to work with them and hold their hand because that is where skills are lacking” said President Ramaphosa in his keynote speech.

Key investors include Meridiam SAS, with their Chief Operating Officer for Africa Mete Saracoglu being in attendance at the symposium, Meridiam SAS will help catalyze these projects through the “Adopt a Municipality Programme”. Hauwei is also a key investor in infrastructure and the upcoming projects which aim to help by way of supporting broadband to human settlements and work on models of the future using technologies into schools and publicly used assets. The deputy CEO of Hauwei Africa Kan Chen was in attendance.

The symposium aims to provide proactive solutions in order to be able to integrate infrastructure of various African countries where a variety of ministers from across the continent were also in attendance. “Fourteen ministers from across the continent met to discuss how we can integrate infrastructure development, to have a common approach and common purpose so that we can drive regional integration, that boosts our economy and creates jobs”. Minister Mcpherson told SABC News. The government intends on making infrastructure a top priority in economic growth as mismanagement of funds in the past has made it difficult to uphold and maintain the upkeep of the country’s infrastructures. In today’s meeting, there was a launch of the 2nd edition “Construction Book” which will contain over 180 projects that are lined up over the course of 2025/26 fiscal year as well as new international investments will be set in motion in order to ensure the infrastructural growth in South Africa and the working relationship between various countries on the continent. Seychelles Minister of Land and Housing, Billy Pangasamy, has expressed his appreciation to the South African government for hosting SIDSSA forum in order to inspire a collaborative dialogue of collective infrastructural growth as he caught up with SABC news.

This seems to be a turning point in South Africa’s economy which is prioritising sustainable growth by ensuring that Africa collectively is experiencing growth and harmony, especially since this comes at the back of Africa Day which has always been a pillar of inspiring collective African growth.