Mashatile to Address Public Works MinMEC on Jobs and Infrastructure Growth

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Thursday deliver the keynote address at the upcoming Public Works and Infrastructure Minister and MECs (MinMEC) sitting, a two-day forum taking place at the Eastcape Training College in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. His remarks are expected to centre on the critical role of infrastructure service delivery in driving South Africa’s economic recovery and creating much-needed jobs.

A National Platform for Coordination

The MinMEC, convened by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, brings together the Deputy Minister of Public Works, Sihle Zikalala, and the MECs for Public Works and Infrastructure from all nine provinces. This forum plays a pivotal role in aligning provincial and national priorities, sharing best practices, and ensuring that public works initiatives contribute effectively to both economic development and service delivery.

The agenda of the sitting will include assessing departmental priorities, identifying risks to service delivery, and measuring progress in infrastructure programmes. At its core, the forum aims to ensure that public assets are leveraged for public good, helping to stimulate growth, reduce unemployment, and strengthen social cohesion.

Oversight Visit to Renewable Energy Project

Ahead of the formal MinMEC proceedings, delegates will conduct an oversight visit to the Umoyilanga Energy Project, an innovative renewable energy facility that integrates solar photovoltaic (PV), wind power, and battery energy storage system (BESS) technologies.

Once fully operational, Umoyilanga will provide 75 MW of dispatchable renewable energy to the national grid, marking a significant step in advancing South Africa’s energy security and transition to cleaner power sources. This hybrid system represents one of the first large-scale projects of its kind in the country, combining solar and wind generation with advanced storage to ensure reliability and stability in energy supply.

The Presidency highlighted that projects such as Umoyilanga form part of government’s broader strategy to upgrade and expand infrastructure, including water facilities, schools, health clinics, and transport systems, in order to improve living standards, restore dignity, and build national unity.

Infrastructure as a Catalyst for Growth

Deputy President Mashatile’s keynote address is expected to reinforce government’s commitment to infrastructure-led growth as outlined in the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP). Public works and infrastructure are seen as critical enablers of job creation, investment attraction, and long-term sustainability.

Infrastructure investment has been consistently identified as one of the key levers for economic transformation, particularly in addressing unemployment among youth, reducing regional disparities, and providing the backbone for inclusive growth.

Strategic Role of MinMEC

By bringing together national and provincial leaders, the MinMEC provides a rare platform for policy coherence and intergovernmental collaboration. It facilitates strategic dialogue, knowledge exchange, and policy alignment, ensuring that infrastructure projects are not only designed for immediate needs but also for long-term development impact.

The deliberations will feed into broader efforts to strengthen infrastructure planning, governance, and oversight, ensuring that projects are delivered efficiently and in line with public expectations.

Looking Ahead

As South Africa continues to grapple with pressing challenges—ranging from high unemployment and economic stagnation to energy insecurity and service delivery backlogs—the outcomes of the MinMEC will be closely watched. The forum’s ability to translate strategy into tangible progress on the ground will be key to restoring confidence in government’s infrastructure drive.

For communities across the country, the MinMEC’s work represents more than policy debates; it is about ensuring reliable services, improving quality of life, and unlocking pathways to sustainable economic opportunity.