The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Develop- ment aims to complete its proposed Gauteng Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (GIIMP) for South Africa’s most populous province by year-end.

Speaking at a recent public consultation workshop, Gauteng Infrastructure Development MEC Qedani Mahlangu said the province hoped to initiate implementation of the plan by next year, which would progress Gauteng’s development.

The three-day workshop was the first step to developing a 2055 infrastructure vision for the province.

Gauteng currently has a population of 12.3-million people, up 33.7% on the 9.2-million inhabitants recorded in 2001, while an inward migration of two- to three-million people is forecast for the coming years.

Gauteng is the smallest province, but houses the fastest-growing population of all nine provinces, which makes for difficult planning, according to University of Johannesburg Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment and electrical engineering professor Tshilidzi Marwala.

An accurate interpretation of space and population growth, as well as educational, water and energy needs, besides others, was required, along with the determination of the infrastructure inter- ventions and innovations that should be pursued.

The consultation aimed to ascertain the economic power- house’s future water, energy, trans- port, education, health and telecommunications requirements to either maintain a high standard of life or improve the wellbeing of current and future residents.

Experts in the fields of demo- graphy, economics, engineering, governance, environment and technology, besides others, gathered in Sandton recently to provide recommendations and help develop solutions.

Last year, the City of Tshwane tabled its ‘South Africa’s Capital 2055’ draft plan for public comment, and outlined a long-term strategy framework to alter the capital city’s development path.

The strategy aimed to ensure the development of an integrated, well-connected, well-governed, well-managed, modernised city and included among its aims infrastructure-led development; strengthening key economic clusters to gain leverage from growth trends in manufacturing; government and business services; and developing a sustainable low-carbon environment, as well as safe, healthy and balanced communities.