Gibb Roundtable Charts New Vision For Sustainable, Inclusive Infrastructure In SA
South Africa’s infrastructure sector is at a defining point, one that demands collaboration, partnership, reform and innovative thinking to unlock sustainable growth. As the nation navigates complex socio-economic and environmental pressures, new opportunities lie in building systems that are not only functional, but also transformative and reflective of the ubuntu spirit.
It is against this backdrop that the engineering and architecture company, GIBB, hosted its latest media roundtable, bringing together experts, practitioners and industry leaders for a solution-focused dialogue on the future of infrastructure in South Africa.
The panel, which was facilitated by Comms Reddy CEO, Cheryl Reddy, featured GIBB Group CEO, Vishaal Lutchman; GIBB General Manager: Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management, Ntshavheni Phidza; President of the Black Business Council in the Built Environment, Danny Masimene; and President of the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions, Lufuno Ratsiku.
The discussion explored how structural reforms, strategic investment and interconnected economic systems are crucial to promoting a long-overdue resurgence in the sector. Participants unpacked how sustainability needs to move beyond projects to become the springboard for Africa’s development and economic future. This dialogue reflected GIBB’s ongoing commitment to economic development and creating infrastructure that supports people and strengthens the fabric of society.
Panellists highlighted the urgent need for South Africa to shift from a fragmented, reactive approach to sustainability – towards adopting cohesive, proactive strategies rooted in long-term impact. The speakers emphasised the central pillars of sustainability: society, environment, economy and culture; and linked them to South Africa’s constitutional mandate to address historic inequalities.
A significant theme was the call for holistic, ecosystem-based thinking. Participants highlighted that organisations and government entities often operate with inward-focused strategies that inadvertently create unsustainable competition. Instead, the roundtable panellists argued that sustainability must evolve from project-level considerations into a broader developmental ecosystem that supports people, strengthens communities and fuels economic growth.
With the focus on structural reform and economic empowerment, Masimene offered a deep dive into South Africa’s structural economic landscape, critiquing the narrow focus on government transformation while much of the private sector remains inadequately regulated.
He referenced the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act and its implications for empowerment, suggesting that South Africa’s ongoing inequality is partly driven by weak enforcement and concentration of supply chains amongst established players, particularly in the construction sector. The discussion also spotlighted challenges in implementing the Procurement Act of 2024, including an inconsistent understanding of new requirements and insufficient accountability by accounting officers.
Phidza then shifted the conversation towards transportation connectivity, noting that inadequate infrastructure continues to limit economic participation, as well as trade and market access.
He said the decline in infrastructure’s contribution to GDP to just 2.7% underscores the urgency of revitalising maintenance, investment and governance structures. The panel agreed that unlocking infrastructure’s potential requires robust public-private partnerships, transparent long-term planning and a decisive shift from top-down planning to bottom-up approaches that reflect the real needs of communities.
Ratsiku emphasised governance and ethics, stressing the dangers of poor professional standards and unfettered entry into the construction sector. He advocated for performance-based contracts, skills transfer requirements and clear professional accountability frameworks. These, he sees as critical steps towards improving infrastructure quality and rebuilding public trust.
Participants also addressed how procurement can be reframed to reward quality and innovation rather than lowest-cost bids. Key recommendations included adjusting evaluation criteria toward quality, safety and sustainability; involving technical experts in defining project priorities; and incorporating measurable outcome-based targets into contracts.
Lutchman highlighted the need for an overhaul of South Africa’s infrastructure planning philosophy and advocated for an inclusive, bottom-up approach involving communities, the private sector and local interests. He suggested that rewriting the country’s planning framework could unlock sustainable infrastructure at scale.
GIBB reaffirmed its commitment to driving sustainable development, strengthening the infrastructure ecosystem and supporting solutions that uplift society. “With South Africa at this critical inflection point, we need to be committed to building infrastructure that is resilient, equitable and rooted in the collective progress of all who call our country home,” concluded Lutchman.
