The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) has committed to its public infrastructure rollout in this financial year.
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, the GDID believes the Kopanong Precinct Project will help 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.
Premier David Makhura, comments: “It is clear that this R5-billion project is a game changing initiative that will modernise 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.”
“We are progressing just as well on our green agenda projects,” Makhura says. “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 programme 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.”
Gauteng has also begun the Roof-top Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Rollout Programme which is an energy-efficient project emanating from integrated demand management plan.
The province is 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 new schools will include smart classrooms (30 for secondary schools and 33 for primary schools).