Abstract:
This third article in a planned series on the state
of South Africa’s public sector fixed infrastructure
examines the implications of its deteriorating
condition. The first two articles focused on efforts
to monitor infrastructure conditions and on studies
of its state and findings. This review outlines the
extent to which the poor condition of infrastructure
negatively impacts on the economy and quality
of life, providing specific examples from sectors
such as land transport, electricity, water, and waste
water, with agribusiness as a case study. The article
discusses how the failures of institutions such as
Eskom (including its neglect of capacity expansion),
PRASA, Transnet, and municipal authorities have
hindered economic growth and stifled improvements
in citizens’ quality of life. Central to this analysis is
the argument that the root cause is institutional
breakdown: the failure of these institutions preceded
the deterioration of infrastructure, and only
through fundamental institutional reform can these
challenges be addressed. The article concludes
that institutional reform should be a primary focus in
addressing South Africa’s infrastructure crisis
