Gqeberha, South Africa, 3 April 2024 – The Coega Development Corporation (Coega) continues to make significant strides as a trusted Implementing Agent (IA) of Choice in South Africa. Since the inception of its Non-SEZ Infrastructure Development Programme in 2004, as an IA, Coega has successfully implemented infrastructure projects to an accumulative value of approximately R48.3bn, thus enhancing state capacity for service delivery and enabling inclusive growth and socio-economic development throughout the country.
During the 2023/24 financial year (FY) alone, from April 2023 to March 2024, Coega has proudly supported the Eastern Cape Department of Education (DoE) and Department of Health (DoH) with the successful completion of infrastructure projects to the value of R4bn in pursuit of its vision as a leading catalyst for the championing of socio-economic development.
Transforming the face of public education facilities
“Coega’s capacity, dedication, and prowess in the development of infrastructure in South Africa is evident through its collaboration with the Department of Education (DoE) on major infrastructure projects. From April 2023 to March 2024, Coega has played a crucial role in the completion of key educational facilities totaling R415.45m,” says Dr. Mpumi Mabula, Coega’s Executive Manager for Infrastructure Planning and Development.
The DoE infrastructure development projects by Coega include the Cebe Junior Secondary School in Kentani, valued at R59m, creating 89 jobs, and allocating 33.75% procurement spend to local SMMEs; Krazukile Senior Secondary School in Kentani, with a project value of R52m, creating 75 jobs, with 34.7% of the construction work awarded to local SMMEs; Tyali High School in Kentani, with a value of R74m, creating 84 jobs and directing 24.6% of procurement spend to SMMEs, to name a few,” continues Dr. Mabula.
Additional school projects handed over to local communities in February and March 2024, and located in the Eastern Cape, include the R49m Nkululeko Senior Secondary School (SSS) in KwaNobuhle, and the R126m Zibi Meyer Junior Secondary School (JSS) in Mount Fletcher. Nkululeko SSS generated 31 local employment opportunities, including two internships, and utilised the services of 13 SMME contractors to ensure inclusive economic growth and to address socio- economic development imperatives. The Zibi Meyer JSS awarded contracts to 21 local businesses and created 80 jobs during the construction period.
The most recent school project handed over by the MEC for Education, Honourable Fundile Gade, accompanied by MEC for Social Development, Honourable Bukiwe Fanta, was to the community of Keiskammahoek. The R55,45m Vukile Tshwete SSS project provided employment to 76 local workers and will positively impact the lives of close to 1000 learners enrolled at the school, providing them with a conducive and dignified learning environment.
With a track record of successfully managing and executing large-scale infrastructure development projects in South Africa, as an Implementing Agent of Choice, Coega has demonstrated its ability to transform the vision into reality, delivering tangible benefits to communities and advancing the nation’s educational agenda, aligning with National Development Plan Vision 2030, National Infrastructure Plan 2050, and United Nations Sustainable Development (SDG) Goal 4, focusing on inclusive and equitable quality education.
In KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), 36 projects have reached practical completion since April 2023 to March 2024, across various districts with Coega as the trusted IA. Collectively, the projects amount to a project award value of approximately R181m.
Enhancing service delivery capacity in the health sector
Coega’s impact extends to the health sector, with the successful completion of three Eastern Cape health infrastructure development projects to an approximate value of R1.3bn. These projects include the Sipetu District Hospital in Ntabankulu valued at R623.7m, the Khotsong Tuberculosis Hospital in Matatiele valued at R549m, and Meje Community Health Centre in Bizana worth R223m. The major health facilities located in other parts of the country include the Dihlabeng Regional Hospital Phase 2 in Bethlehem, with a construction value of R750m.
Other hospitals with Coega as IA include the following:
- The R889m Zithulele District Hospital, which has also achieved sectional practical completion in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, has generated a total of 786 construction jobs, 417 employment opportunities for young people, nine graduate internships, and 115 technical training opportunities. Further, 939 people were afforded opportunities for life skills training, with approximately 64% of beneficiaries categorised as local labour.
- The Bambisana District Hospital in the Eastern Cape, valued at R515m, has created 376 job opportunities, with 211 opportunities offered to young people, 49 opportunities created for women, seven internships, and training for 348 people.
Coega’s success as a leader in the public sector infrastructure development and trusted infrastructure IA is rooted in its adherence to best practices, transparency, and accountability. The organisation follows a rigorous project management approach, ensuring that infrastructure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards while ensuring good corporate governance. Through effective international best practice in project management, ISO certified processes, and excellent customer service, Coega has consistently earned the trust of clients and stakeholders. This trust has extended to clients outside of South Africa, into the rest of the continent where Coega is also implementing infrastructure projects. The Auditor-General of South Africa issued a “clean audit” to Coega for the last four (4) consecutive years, further demonstrating its excellence in supply chain management, says Dr. Ayanda Vilakazi, Coega Head of Marketing, Brand and Communications.
Supporting the roll-out of Public Works and Infrastructure Development across the country
Currently, Coega is implementing numerous infrastructure development projects across its departmental portfolios. Coega has been appointed to implement 26 projects across the country on behalf of the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure through its debut programme,the Turnkey Projects Programme, to the value of approximately R1.3bn.
These projects, which are largely in the planning phase, range from much-needed repairs and upgrades to public facilities to the construction of new facilities located across eight provinces including the cities of Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Gqeberha, and Mahikeng, amongst others.
These projects further extend Coega’s footprint and portfolio of projects to every province in the country. This follows Coega’s excellent achievement on the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) development, in which the organisation completed approximately R4,2bn infrastructure development within a period of two years during the COVID-19 Pandemic, to the satisfaction of all partners and stakeholders who played a crucial role during construction.
As the new financial year 2024/25 swiftly approaches, Coega will continue to play a pivotal role in advancing infrastructure development as a key priority of the South African Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. “Based on 24 years’ expertise in infrastructure delivery and maintenance, and with projects underway across the country and into Africa, Coega has demonstrated remarkable success spearheading infrastructure development and maintenance projects for health, education, public works, and other programme sectors by virtue of its competence and expertise,” concludes Mabula.
