​Lerato Mailoane
In addressing the stubborn challenge of unemployment in Gauteng, as the Gauteng Provincial Government is pushing infrastructure spending into high gear over the next three years to create job opportunities. 
Presenting the Gauteng Provincial Government's 2022/23 budget to the Legislature on Wednesday, 9 March 2022 MEC for Finance and e-Government, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said that a total of R36.8 billion has been allocated for infrastructure.
"The money will be used to build and maintain public infrastructure that provides enabling environment required to deliver government services to communities including schools, healthcare facilities, libraries, social development facilities and sports facilities," she said. 
She said: "R12.2 billion is allocated for 2022/23 financial year, R12.3 billion for 2023/24 financial year and R12.3 billion for the 2024/25 financial year." 
The MEC called on departments to improve efficiencies in managing infrastructure projects to avoid cost overruns and wastage of public funds.  
"Available funds are increasingly becoming scarcer and should be protected in the same manner that a person would look after his/her "own funds". Unnecessary mistakes throughout the delivery chain of infrastructure should not be the normal way of doing business without consequences," she said. 
Some of the projects that will be funded as part of the infrastructure programme over the 2022 MTEF include the following: 
On Roads and Transport: Upgrading of road K101 Phase 1 from N1 Rooihuiskraal Interchange to road D795 (Olifantsfontein Road) (Midrand), upgrading of R82 phase 3 between Road D1073 (Walkerville) and K164 (De Deur), and construction of new road K60 between Megawatt Park (Maxwell Drive) and Kyalami Road. 
The funds will also go to the refurbishment of hospitals (Dr Yusuf Dadoo, Edenvale, Jubilee, Kopanong, Leratong Hospital and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. 
To address, housing backlog the budget will be used for the construction of housing units and servicing of stands at Impumelelo Extension 4 - Phase 1, Greenhills Ext 12 Afrivillage, Clayville Ext. 71 and Dan Tlome. 
The money will also go towards the construction of new schools at Rust-ter-vaal secondary school, Braamfischerville primary school, Dr. W.K. du Plessis-skool for learners with special education needs and EW Hobbs primary school. 
MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko said money has also been allocated for the completion of  Kopanong Precinct Project. The procurement process for Kopanong Precinct is at the final phase of appointing preferred bidders.  
In addition, the Gauteng infrastructure Financing Agency (GIFA) will identify and prepare relevant infrastructure projects within the Gauteng SEZs that require funding from the private sector. 
"Infrastructure is not only critical in the delivery of services such as education and health but also enables economic development and growth," she said.  
The MEC said: "To address issues of underspending on infrastructure budget, the provincial government has introduced the concept of first preparing a business case as a minimum requirement for infrastructure projects that are funded from the equitable share, to ensure that key strategic planning issues, cost estimates, risks and related matters are given adequate consideration before allocating funding to a project."