Gauteng City Region to fast track infrastructure rollout
With fresh impetus from the immensely successful Gauteng Infrastructure Investment Conference (GIIC) hosted by Premier David Makhura, the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) will implement its public infrastructure rollout in this financial year with renewed vigor.
One of the key flagship projects is the Kopanong Precinct the proposed Head Office for the Gauteng government departments in the Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD).
As the custodian of state property in Gauteng, besides ensuring optimal usage of government office space and property, the GDID approaches the Kopanong Precinct Project as an ideal means to re-launch the rejuvenation of the Johannesburg CBD) on a large scale. Most significantly, this project will also stimulate investment in the CBD in line with the objectives of the GIIC.
The Kopanong Precinct
We were greatly encouraged by the sheer numbers of those who attended and the amount of interest shown by both the private and public sector players locally and from elsewhere. The overwhelming appetite created by projects presented by the Gauteng Infrastructure Financing Agency (GIFA), and more specifically, the interest drawn by the Kopanong Precinct which scored the highest (96%) amongst seven projects presented for pitching at the GIIC.
It is clear that this R5 billion project is a game changing initiative that will modernize the face of service delivery in the province. It will also revamp the existing state of the Inner City, which will enable new business interest and promote retail.
It is expected to take 3-5 years to complete and will feature numerous modern technological considerations including the green technology such as solar panels and green buildings as well as rooftop gardens. These will contribute towards reducing maintenance cost of precinct over time, improve the façades of the buildings and invest in alternative energy sources.
The open space ground floor levels of the buildings have been proposed to develop retail streams, from restaurants, cafes, book stores to retails clothing, arcades and other entertainment sources.
The Project has been registered as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the National Treasury. The appointment of the transaction advisor and the feasibility study covering all financial and legal aspects of the project are currently underway.
The technical aspect of the feasibility study was also conducted looking at all disciplines related to building conditions assessment. We are pleased that the project as per the treasury regulation 16 guidelines is now in the process of obtaining Treasury approval.
Green Agenda Projects
We are progressing just as well on our green agenda projects. We are contributing significantly to creating a smart and green economy. The Gauteng Provincial Government has developed the Gauteng Energy Mix Strategy in order to contribute towards the renewable energy generation. Our role is to implement the Green Agenda in Gauteng infrastructure.
We will in this financial year implement the co-generation and the Tri-generation Programme which will provide us with the ability to simultaneously generate power and steam for heat and cooling from the combustion of natural gas.
We have 77 boilers in Gauteng hospitals, fuelled by coal. A program to replace these with gas and diesel boilers is underway. The existing natural gas infrastructure will provide the backbone for the delivering of natural gas to the hospitals.
Six hospitals are earmarked for this programme i.e. Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Thelle Mogoerane and Bheki Mlangeni District Hospital. National Treasury provisionally registered the programme as a PPP project.
A Request for Quotation (RFQ) was sent out to the market and 13 companies responded. Eight of these service providers were pre-qualified. A transactional advisor was appointed on 1 June 2015 by Gauteng Infrastructure Funding Agency (GIFA) to develop the Request for Proposal (RFP). The RFP has been given to the pre-qualified companies to respond.
We have begun the Roof-top Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Rollout Program which is an energy efficient project emanating from integrated demand management plan. Transactional Advisor to develop the procurement documents has been appointed and the programme has also been registered as a potential PPP with National Treasury.
Health Capex Projects
We have finalised all the technical aspects of the Old Natalspruit Hospital and are now ready for its demolition. Based on our findings on the building’s structural integrity as well as the geotechnical report of the land, we have decided on the systematic demolition instead of implosion.
This demolition will take up to 9 months and we will be going out on tender for this work in a weeks’ time. We are in continuous consultation with all stakeholders under the leadership of the GDoH on the Hospitals’ proposed alternative use. The final decision in this regard will be communicated in due course. We applaud the community of Katlehong for the cooperation with regards to the security at the hospital.
We have submitted plans to the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) to renovate the Khayalami Hospital (Kempton Park Hospital) to a level 2 District Hospital with more than 350 beds. If the GDoH gives it the plans the all clear, the hospital will be renovated at a cost of just above a R1 billon. This will be a welcome addition to the overburdened local health care facilities in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan area especially the nearby Tembisa Hospital that is overcrowded.
We are currently on track to completing the Thelle Mogoerane (New Natalspruit) Hospital’s outstanding finishing touches including the New Nurses and Doctors Accommodation. The facility is planned to accommodate 370 people in total with 300 nurses and 70 Doctors.
This facility features a 3 story Training Centre and a park both of which will be open for the use by the community of Vosloorus. The Centre also has a crèche and Gym for the staff. We anticipate completing this R231 million project by September next year, giving us just about 18 months of construction.
We have commenced the R117 million refurbishment of Sebokeng Hospital. Site handover was done on the 11th November 2013 and Construction started on the 13th of January 2014 as requested by hospital management. The anticipated completion date for construction is 16th of February 2016.
We would also like to bring to the public attention the delay of the construction of Daveyton Mortuary. This project was planned to start during the first quarter of this financial year. The community there has since asked the Government to prioritize the construction of the hospital project first. We are now planning for the new hospital to be integrated with the mortuary.
The new hospital is planned to have 300 beds. The project is planned to go out on tender in the next financial year.
Education Capex Projects
We are currently constructing 19 new schools for the Gauteng Department of Education. The new schools are at various sites across the province at a cost of R1, 8 billion.
The project will cover both Primary and High Schools and the designs for the schools are based on the proto-type designs developed in-line with the norms and standards promulgated by the Minister of Education in November 2013. The new schools comprise of the following facilities:
1. Administration Block.
2. Smart Classrooms (30 for Secondary Schools & 33 for Primary Schools).
3. Science Laboratories (2 for Secondary Schools & 1 for Primary Schools).
4. Multipurpose Centre’s (2 for Secondary Schools & 1 for Primary Schools).
5. School Hall (1200 seater capacity).
6. Ablution Blocks.
7. Dining Hall.
8. Guard House.
9. Perimeter Fence.
10. Sports Facility Building or Change rooms.
11. Soccer / Rugby grounds (with athletics tracks).
12. Netball / Basketball / Tennis combination courts.
13. Covered walkways.
14. Refuse yard.
TSHWANE WOME’S LIVING MONUMENT
We have now granted the contractor of the Tshwane Women’s Living Heritage Monument a further 35 days to complete the monument and this move its completion date to 30 October 2015. This delay is attributable mainly to engineering technical issues and the industrial action in the metal industries sector, which commenced on 1 July 2014 and ended on 28 July 2014.
The contract value of the project is R151million. The project value comprises of two components i.e. Heritage & Artwork budget is R63million and the Engineering works is R88million.
Khutsong Social Integrated Facility
We will in two months submit to the Department of Social Development a prototype of the early childhood and the aged care centres. The prototype will come complete with regional offices, guardhouse, and mini-substation and landscaping. This will make it easy for us to roll-out similar projects for the department going forward.
Transport and Roads
At the cost of just above R11 million apiece, we are almost done with the major refurbishments of two Licensing and Testing Centres for the Department of Transport at Tshwane. We are sitting at 95% and 75% completion rate for the Mabopane License and Testing Centre and the Temba License and Testing Centre respectively.
Enquiries:
Mr. Mbangwa Xaba
MEC Mayathula-Khoza
Spokesperson
Cell: 072 447 6582
E-mail: mbangwa.xaba@gauteng.gov.za
