Infrastructure: Patel cracks the whip
The government is taking a tough-love approach to drive its bold, integrated R1-trillion infrastructure plan and the state will crack the whip on both private sector and weak state institutions.
"You can expect quite hard bargaining between ourselves and the private sector on the terms of involvement," Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel said this week in a wide-ranging interview with the Mail & Guardian about the state's plan to prop up the economy.
The plan expands on existing projects and policies, but it was laid out clearly for the first time in President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation address last week. It reveals a fresh approach to stimulating growth and job creation, although it has not been welcomed warmly by all.
Some commentators* regard it as little more than an expensive scheme to extend state intervention in the economy. Others say it is doomed to fail, given the government's patchy record in project planning, which has led to costly delays in major projects such as the Medupi and Kusile power stations. By the state's own admission in documents such as the national development plan, its ability to deliver is weak. But Patel said the state would not make the same mistakes. It was seeking a more pragmatic approach to involve the private sector and co-ordinate all spheres of government to get projects off the ground quickly and cost-effectively.
http://mg.co.za/article/2012-02-17-patel-cracks-the-whip
*I bet the commentators are the local Free Market Foundation members (probably funded by the Kochs).
= new reply since forum marked as read
