Drone technology detects new projects for department to undertake
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By: Thomas Lethoba 
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The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure has used the newly invented Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Drone) to uncover over 340 Project that are classified into the categories, Platinum, Silver and Coal.  This was announced by Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development, Jacob Mamabolo, while presenting the 2018/19 financial year Budget Votes for the department at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on Tuesday, 26 June 2018.  MEC Mamabolo said that all the 340 projects are monitored through the Drone technology to examine the outcome status of on-going sites.  Now we have put in place a proper Project Readiness Matrix (PRM) of all our projects, and we succeeded in introducing a three-year project pipeline in order to efficiently manage our portfolio of 340 projects, as quoted in African Construction trends of 2017.  It indicates the challenges that are faced in the construction industry in regard to mega-facility projects, that most of them are often over budget and overtime. Probability of the projects increasing time and cost overruns increases in project size and complexity,” said MEC Mamabolo.  The department is working towards a substantive goal through the provincial government's Transformation, Modernisation and Re-industrialisation (TMR) objectives, which are at the forefront of infrastructure delivery.  MEC Mamabolo also indicated that the Department has a R3billion budget which is meant for infrastructure development and maintenance of government buildings in the province.  Our budget for this financial year is R3 billion and we are also driving the R4.5billion that is aimed at undertaking the infrastructure budget on behalf of our client departments, in prospect of carrying smart facilities with innovated technology and renewable energy,” MEC Mamabolo said.  In addition, MEC Mamabolo made a commitment to using the department's investments to ensure that flagship programmes such as the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), National Youth Service (NYS) and Skills Development Programme run smoothly.  We will also be launching the Moses Kotane Skills Training Centre to empower young people with skills and comprehensive of opportunities in the industry of construction. The centre will be opened in July this year,” added MEC Mamabolo.   Moreover, MEC Mamabolo applauded Gauteng residents for participating in the Department'sI Care, We Care” programme and urged other residents to be part of the change and act against vandalism.

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