DA's Plan for Growth and Jobs - Democratic Alliance

Assessment Unit, located in the Presidency (see previous chapter) will conduct regularreviews of the impact of the independent regulators on economic growth, while alsoproviding advice and support to these bodies.Renew Freight Rail FleetInitiate a process of renewing the country’s entire freight rail fleet to expand capacity andenhance the efficiency, reliability and competitiveness of transporting goods around thecountry and to our trading partners abroad. This will take the form of a region-by-region shift(beginning in areas facing immediate capacity constraints) to new generation high-capacityrolling stock, and will be augmented by station upgrades and improved facilities to enhancethe interface between rail and road-based services. As this is a long-term process, improvedmaintenance of existing rolling stock will be integrated into the renewal process.Develop inter-SA business corridorUse infrastructure investment to improve commercial connectivity between regions byupgrading the Durban-Gauteng freight corridor, and build a new port at the old DurbanInternational Airport site. This will both stimulate commercial activity within South Africa andenhance our trade profile by better integrating the country’s primary economic hub(Gauteng) with the main port (Durban).Upgrade Information and Communications Technology InfrastructureEnter into private-public partnerships to expand and upgrade South Africa’s Information andCommunications Technology (ICT) infrastructure, with a specific view to extending theavailability, reach, and competitiveness of broadband internet. Each PPP investment projectwill be accompanied by a report that will (i) examine the ability of the market to sustainadditional infrastructure; (ii) provide a cost/ benefit analysis in instances where there is aduplication of facilities; and (iii) identify opportunities to reduce costs associated withtrenching by creating common rights of way for competing operators to lay dedicated lines.The implementation of the ICT-PPP investment programme will take into account (i) thegeographical distribution of existing network infrastructure and the correspondinginfrastructure needs; (ii) the appropriate role of private and public partners in a project-byprojectbasis; (iii) the need for improved coordination and communication links withinstitutions responsible for developing demand-side strategies in other sectors.75 | P a g e