Challenges facing municipal infrastructural management in South Africa

Abstract

The quality of life and economic development of our country is underpinned by a vast infrastructure managed by local (municipal) governments and also provincial and national governments. There is strong evidence that insufficient attention has been paid by the great majority of municipalities to the operation and especially the maintenance of the infrastructure they own. In particular, there is too-frequent gross under-provision of budgets for infrastructure management. But if maintenance is inadequate, infrastructure will fail to deliver the service it is intended to deliver, and social and economic growth will be impeded - something that just cannot be afforded Municipalities must plan and provide for the long term management of all their infrastructure assets. There is a need for a structured approach to and methodology of infrastructure management (‘management’ in this sense includes operations and repair, routine maintenance, refurbishment and replacement). The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has reviewed published research into the state of South Africa’s municipal infrastructure, has undertaken its own extensive research, and has investigated current management practice. The CSIR has also investigated concepts of sustainable management of that infrastructure, and what is needed in order for that infrastructure to be sustainably managed. This article describes selected findings, sketches implications, and makes recommendations.