The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) is taking significant steps to enhance compliance in construction and project management. Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala announced plans to establish the Office of the Engineer-General South Africa, which will promote engineering excellence and bridge regulatory gaps.
This move aims to ensure compliance with engineering standards and oversee large-scale projects critical to South Africa’s economic growth.
In light of recent tragedies like the George building collapse, Deputy Minister Zikalala emphasized the need to prioritize construction safety and global standards.
“In the aftermath of the tragic George Building collapse last year that left 34 people dead, we need to look to conferences like this to move beyond preaching about safety, to actually ensure that safety is vigorously enforced,” he said.
The DPWI aims to stimulate innovation and technology adoption in construction, promoting green building designs and sustainable infrastructure development.
“The conference must stimulate our imagination and push us to adopt innovation and technology to better develop and deliver sustainable infrastructure,” Deputy Minister Zikalala stated.
The government seeks private sector collaboration through Public Private Partnership (PPP) models to enhance service delivery. The industry must also drive transformation, promoting inclusivity and addressing legacy patterns of exclusion.
“The sector must therefore evolve to not just be more productive, but also to be more equitable,” emphasised Deputy Minister Zikalala.
The DPWI will utilise policy enforcement to drive systemic transformation, incentivise sustainability, and promote compliance.
“Policy is not a constraint but a catalyst. It is the lever through which we can build a resilient infrastructure economy, an inclusive workforce and a climate-conscious construction sector,” concluded Deputy Minister Zikalala.
The DPWI’s key initiatives include establishing the Office of the Engineer-General South Africa to promote engineering excellence, prioritising construction safety and global standards, promoting sustainability through green building designs and innovative technologies, fostering collaboration with the private sector through Public Private Partnerships, and driving transformation to promote inclusivity and equity in the construction industry.
