Engineers pleased with government

Johannesburg - Consulting Engineers SA (Cesa) has welcomed what it described as the government's honest approach to recognising weaknesses.

Cesa head Graham Pirie said on Tuesday its attention to infrastructure, and the presidential infrastructure co-ordination committee (PICC) deserved particular praise.

"We are impressed that Cabinet devoted a whole day to address issues pertaining to infrastructure, as well as detailed plans of the PICC," he said.

"We are definitely ready to consult and support the government in finding innovative and entrepreneurial ways of partnering in order to ensure a successful roll-out of the programme."

Cesa participated in the presidential infrastructure conference on Friday.

Pirie said the government had recognised weaknesses in terms of state spending on infrastructure and public sector capacity, and cumbersome procurement issues, he said.

Infrastructure investment was a key priority for both the National Development Plan and the New Growth Path.

This was expected to direct national growth and drive job creation by implementing a long-term, government-led infrastructure investment programme.

Cesa welcomed remarks by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe that the country's large-scale public infrastructure programme offered opportunities for partnerships.