South Africa - The Government of South Africa is pleased to announce the launch of the Independent Transmission Projects (ITP) market sounding exercise or request for information (RFI), a key initiative to transform the country's energy and infrastructure sectors. This is the first step towards the launch of the ITP pilot tender planned in 2025.
South Africa’s ability to achieve its ambitious infrastructure investment
goals set at 10% of GDP hinges on the successful mobilisation of public and private capital. As such, this market sounding exercise is designed to gauge the level of interest and readiness among industry stakeholders, and to explore innovative, alternative models for the development and delivery of power transmission infrastructure and expedite the implementation of the Transmission Development PlanThe RFI exercise seeks to gather insights on the market’s interest, capabilities, and potential solutions for accelerating transmission infrastructure development. The RFI will assist in the design of an effective procurement framework, inform the development of regulatory instruments, and guide the preparation of the tender documents.
The RFI exercise is open to all interested parties, including private developers, financiers, DFIs and other interested stakeholders. Responses to the RFI will play a critical role in shaping the final structure of the tender and the successful implementation of the ITP programme.
This ITP process aims to unlock substantial investment in transmission infrastructure, which is crucial for supporting economic growth, attracting private sector participation, and driving innovation in the energy sector.
Government’s Commitment to Infrastructure Development and Economic Growth
The Government has identified the ITP programme as a cornerstone in achieving its economic growth target of 5% as outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP). Therefore, the ITP programme is a strategic response to South Africa’s constrained fiscal position, Eskom’s limited balance sheet, and the need for greater private sector involvement in the country’s energy transition.
RFI Details
The Government urges all interested parties, including developers, funders, and financiers, to participate in this important exercise by submitting their responses to the RFI. This is an opportunity to engage with the government on a project of national importance, which will contribute to South Africa’s energy future and long-term economic growth.
Interested stakeholders are invited to submit their RFI responses from 12 December 2024 to 28 February 2025. Full details of the RFI process, including instructions on how to submit responses, will be available by clicking here.
For further information, please visit the provided link, scan the QR code below, or contact the Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO) directly via email at itp-rfi@ipp-projects.co.za.
Please note that interested stakeholders must provide their contact details to the IPPO at the above email address to enable the IPPO to communicate them should there be an update to the RFI and/or for any future engagements on the ITP RFI.
President Cyril Ramaphosa: Handover of Mpumalanga Welisizwe rural bridge
Programme Director,
Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Dean Macpherson,
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms. Angie Motshekga,
Premier of Mpumalanga, Mr. Mandla Ndlovu,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
MEC’s,
Executive Mayor of the Nkangala District Municipality, Cllr. Thomas Ngwenya,
Traditional and community leaders,
Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Morning. Sanibonani. Avuxeni. Goeie môre.
I greet the residents of KwaMhlanga and the Nkangala District Municipality.
It is a pleasure to be here in Mpumalanga again.
We are here as government to report that we have delivered on our promise to address the problem of old and dilapidated bridges in Mpumalanga.
Communities have been struggling with this for some time. Poor transport infrastructure has been making it difficult to get to and from places of work, school, the hospital and clinic, and to towns and cities from rural areas.
In some cases, what would normally be a quick journey from one place to another takes double the time because there is no bridge.
This has been particularly difficult in areas near or separated by water sources like rivers or streams.
When the rains come or there are heavy floods, crossing becomes difficult and dangerous.
As government we have heard your call as the people of Mpumalanga for this issue to be addressed.
Earlier today we officially launched bridges at Vezubuhle, Leratong and Zakheni as part of the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme.
This is a ground-breaking method to construct bridges that are sturdy, that last, and that are safe for communities.
This programme has been in existence since 2020 and is a designated Strategic Integrated Project under our national infrastructure build.
We have been working with speed to deploy the bridges where they are needed most, in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North-West, the Eastern Cape and the Free State.
We were all extremely impressed by the quality of the structures we visited earlier, as you have seen in the video that has just been played.
This type of bridge is known as a Bailey bridge. It is a portable, prefabricated truss bridge constructed with timber and steel alloys, suspended on reinforced concrete.
The biggest advantage of a Bailey bridge is that it can be transported and assembled in a matter of days, compared to constructing a regular bridge.
During the devastating floods in parts of the country two years ago, we were able to deploy 14 of these bridges to support affected communities in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.
These bridges are made to last. With regular maintenance, the average lifespan of a Bailey Bridge is twenty years.
Bailey bridges have been used by the military since the Second World War. Here in South Africa, they are being constructed by the South African Army Engineer Formation.
I want to once more congratulate the South African National Defence Force for its contribution to uplifting communities.
Whether as part of the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme, in assisting with water source rehabilitation, or deployed to guard critical energy infrastructure, the SANDF is driving development and progress across our land.
Welisizwe bridges are addressing the legacy of apartheid-era spatial planning, when investment in quality infrastructure was confined to certain areas.
Our rural communities were most disadvantaged by this neglect, and this is something we as government are determined to resolve.
These bridges will improve mobility for all the people of the province. Our learners will be able to make it safely to and from school. It will be easier for our elders to reach hospitals and clinics, and to get to pension pay points.
These bridges will make commuting safer, faster and easier for women and children, because they don’t have to make their way through areas that are unsafe, especially at night.
Pedestrian safety will be improved.
Beyond improving mobility and connectivity in rural areas, the Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme is creating decent work and business opportunities for our citizens.
Earlier we heard from local entrepreneurs on how the construction of a Welisizwe Bridge brought them business.
A key component of this programme is that components and construction materials must be sourced locally.
We also heard from the beneficiaries of the Expanded Public Works Programme or EPWP.
Each bridge site deploys Army engineers, artisans and EPWP workers who provide services like welding, groundwork, earth moving and soil retention.
The EPWP also supports skills development. Graduates are appointed to work in bridge assessment, project management, maintenance, as assistant engineers and as candidate construction project managers.
I am told that the construction of the bridges we launched today created work opportunities for 105 EPWP beneficiaries.
This is 105 unemployed South Africans given a chance to earn a living. With this income they were able to support themselves and their families.
With the skills they learned, they are now able to secure further employment in construction or other sectors.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has set itself an ambitious target of constructing 288 bridges by the end of the 2025/2026 financial year.
Seventeen of these bridges are planned for Mpumalanga.
An amount of R3,8 billion has been allocated for this purpose over the 2023/2024 and 2025/2026 financial years.
In line with the localization requirement, construction materials and bridge components will be sourced from local suppliers.
We anticipate that approximately 17 000 job opportunities and 510 training opportunities will be created during this phase, including for EPWP participants and artisans.
This is the model to which we aspire. The construction of social infrastructure that meets community need, helps us achieve our national infrastructure build goals, and supports job creation.
This year marks thirty years since we attained our democracy.
We inherited a country where one’s quality of life was determined by the colour of one’s skin.
What this meant was that white South Africans and predominantly white areas got decent and quality roads and bridges, hospitals, clinics and schools.
Over the past thirty years we have made considerable progress in leveraging public infrastructure to narrow the gulf of inequality. This programme is part of that effort.
As the seventh administration we are committed to speeding up the pace of service delivery to ensure more South Africans have access to the amenities they need to lead lives of dignity.
I want to make a call to our communities.
Look after these assets. They are your assets.
They are for the benefit of your community and for the benefit of future generations.
Work with local and provincial authorities to ensure they are protected from vandalism. Use them safely and for the purpose they are intended.
Desist from any acts that damage them or make them unsafe for use by others.
As local and provincial authorities, let us ensure that members of the community and local businesses benefit from the opportunities created by the construction of the bridges.
As national government let us continue to think innovatively and creatively when it comes to our respective service delivery models.
This programme is best practice in how we can address backlogs and provide services within tighter timeframes and at a lesser cost.
Allow me to thank all who have been part of making today a success, and thank you for all the hard work and planning that has gone into this launch.
The Welisizwe Rural Bridges Programme is a sign of our commitment as government to bring development to all, and most importantly to ensure that no-one is left behind.
I thank you
Minister Barbara Creecy: Cross-Alive Road Safety Campaign Site Visit at Lebombo Border Post
Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa
Deputy Director-General for Road Transport at the DoT, Mr Christopher Hlabisa
The Chairperson of the C-BRTA Board of Directors,
The Board Members of the C-BRTA Board of Directors,
The CEO of the CBRTA,
CEOs of other Transport Agencies,
The Executive Team and Management of the C-BRTA,
Heads of Departments,
Officials from the Department of Transport and Entities,
Officials from Neighbouring States,
Members of the Media,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to start today by offering the profound condolences of the Department of Transport to the families of the ten people who passed away in yesterday morning’s crash on the N1 in the Free State.
When myself and Deputy Minister Hlengwa launched the Festive Season Road Safety campaign a week ago, I said that road crashes have a negative impact on our economy but, more importantly, road crashes and deaths have a devastating impact on families and communities.
In addition to the human cost, last year (2023), road crashes cost our economy no less than R205 billion. This translates into almost three percent of GDP for 2023.
According to the most recent data [collected at the end of Friday 6 December] 162 fatal crashes and 193 deaths had been recorded this month.
To date Gauteng and Kwazulu Natal have the highest number of accidents and fatalities with a concentration of incidents in the metros. While current figures represent a decrease when compared to the same period last year, these figures are still too high.
Preliminary analysis of the figures indicates a high number of buses and trucks involved in accidents with most of the accidents occurring after dark.
To rectify this situation urgent meetings will be convened this week with bus and truck operators as well as with traffic management authorities in the provinces and metros concerned.
Road traffic operations in the first five days of December stopped nearly 200 000 vehicles and made 512 arrests. The top five offences include speeding; driving without a seat belt; driving an unlicensed vehicle; driving without a driving licence and driving a vehicle with worn tyres.
Mpumalanga accounted for the highest number of impounded vehicles with 267 vehicles being taken off the road.
Government is working hard to increase traffic patrolling and law enforcement operations. However government alone cannot change this reality.
We can only save lives if road users change their behaviour, because it is the behaviour of people that leads to most of the deaths on our roads.
It is for this reason that I want to repeat our key messages to the public on behalf of the Government of South Africa:
1. Before any journey:
- Check your vehicle and make sure it is roadworthy!
- Carry a valid driver's license.
- Make sure your Public Driving Permit is in order if you need one.
2. If you are a pedestrian this festive season, make smart choices:
- Only cross the road at a marked intersection or pedestrian crossing!
- Avoid jaywalking!
- Wear bright clothing at night!
3. Fatigue is a silent killer. If you’re on the long road, take a break every two hours or every 200 kilometres.
4. Remember, buckle up and stay within the speed limit.
5. Don't overtake on a barrier line. Travel during the day. It is safer
6. If you are planning to party please do not drink and drive. Please do not drink and walk. Stay over, appoint a designated driver who will not drink or use public transport.
Today we visit the Lebombo border post to receive first-hand information on the work that has been done to de-congest trucks waiting to cross into Mozambique.
Since 8am Saturday morning, we received reports of the closure of the border which had resulted in trucks queuing on the South African side. The queue reached distances of more than 20 kilometres and this brought other challenges.
This means that the Mozambiquan authorities opened the border to allow returning empty trucks and for passenger vehicles to leave that country. Since yesterday, the passenger vehicles have also been allowed to cross the border into Mozambique
To address this challenge, my department is working with the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA) and other law enforcement agencies to develop a plan to address this dire situation.
Our country’s border authorities are in touch with their Mozambiquan counterparts who will advice when it is safe for freight vehicles to cross the border.
CBRTA is also in touch with the trucking industry to update them on the current situation.
This situation has happened on a number of occasions in recent times. We plead for patience from the truck drivers who are having to stomach a very frustrating situation and spend long hours on the road
I thank you.
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