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Cape Town - While the construction industry is grateful for the contribution the government has made, it is disappointed that there are no plans, as yet, for it to continue in this vein, said Rob Johnson, executive director of the Master Builders Association of the Western Cape (MBAWC).
The MBAWC is a registered trade association for employers in the building industry.
He commented on the recent State of the Nation address by President Jacob Zuma in which he referred to the National Infrastructure Plan which was unveiled in 2012.
It was led by the president through the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission.
"We have subsequently invested R1trn in public infrastructure over the past five years.Many of the projects are completed or are nearing completion,” said Johnson.
Zuma has, however, declined to present the programme of action for the current financial year, stating that it will be presented by the new government after the elections.
“The constuction industry is still recovering from the effects of the global recession and needs to have some measure of reassurance that the government, regardless of whether it remains in the hands of the ANC or is taken over by another party, will continue to support it," said Johnson.
"Government is in the best position to deliver a consistent workload to the construction sector and thereby reduce the effects of economic cycles. Our industry has the capacity to absorb large numbers of unemployed people and enable the development of skills, if a steady workflow can come from government.”
Johnson commended the government’s success in increasing in the number of enrolments at tertiary level, the much-improved matric pass rate and interventions aimed at bettering maths and science.
"We also applaud their efforts to make further education more accessible both through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and the construction of additional FET Colleges,” said Johnson.
“We will continue to support government’s efforts through our artisan, skills and bursary programmes. However, these can never be on the scale required to service the industry as a whole.”
The MBAWC is a registered trade association for employers in the building industry.
He commented on the recent State of the Nation address by President Jacob Zuma in which he referred to the National Infrastructure Plan which was unveiled in 2012.
It was led by the president through the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission.
"We have subsequently invested R1trn in public infrastructure over the past five years.Many of the projects are completed or are nearing completion,” said Johnson.
Zuma has, however, declined to present the programme of action for the current financial year, stating that it will be presented by the new government after the elections.
“The constuction industry is still recovering from the effects of the global recession and needs to have some measure of reassurance that the government, regardless of whether it remains in the hands of the ANC or is taken over by another party, will continue to support it," said Johnson.
"Government is in the best position to deliver a consistent workload to the construction sector and thereby reduce the effects of economic cycles. Our industry has the capacity to absorb large numbers of unemployed people and enable the development of skills, if a steady workflow can come from government.”
Johnson commended the government’s success in increasing in the number of enrolments at tertiary level, the much-improved matric pass rate and interventions aimed at bettering maths and science.
"We also applaud their efforts to make further education more accessible both through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and the construction of additional FET Colleges,” said Johnson.
“We will continue to support government’s efforts through our artisan, skills and bursary programmes. However, these can never be on the scale required to service the industry as a whole.”
