On 15 October 2024, Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure held a press conference where Minister Dean Macpherson and Acting Head of Infrastructure SA, Mameetse Masemola, unveiled the first bid window process for public infrastructure projects. This marks the launch of a new approach aimed at boosting innovation and public-private collaboration in infrastructure development. 

ISA had previously published a list of approximately 50 strategic infrastructure projects across key sectors, including ICT, water, transport, and energy. The newly announced bid window builds on the methodology followed by the Independent Power Producer (IPP) office to attract private sector interest in public infrastructure. Seed funding has been provided by ISA to prepare a project pipeline that includes 12 strategic projects, targeting sectors like energy, water & sanitation, transport, human settlements, social infrastructure, municipal infrastructure, and industrial development zones (IDZs).

This new approach is designed to bridge the funding gap for critical infrastructure projects and drive South Africa’s economic growth by strengthening public-private partnerships. During the press conference, Minister Macpherson emphasised the importance of this initiative, stating, “We need to start from the ground up in rethinking how infrastructure projects are planned and executed. With this project, we are committed to ensuring better collaboration between the public and private sectors, which will ultimately deliver value for the South African people.” Mameetse Masemola added that the project aligns with South Africa’s National Infrastructure Plan 2050, emphasising the need for innovative infrastructure solutions and the involvement of key stakeholders to ensure its success.