There are several infrastructure mega-projects in South Africa, including the international Square Kilometre Array radio telescope, a dig-out port in Durban, the ongoing upgrade of the R573 (a regional route in South Africa), the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, and SA Connect (which aims to connect schools, health facilities, government offices and service centres in underserved rural districts).
The costs of these projects may run into millions or billions of rand, and the average citizen may not see the value of making such enormous investments. However, the mega-project industry has contributed to increasing employment in the country over the years, and in the long term these projects are vital to sustain the country’s economy and business climate.
As an emerging economy, South Africa needs infrastructure mega-projects to remain competitive and reinvent…