The South African government has long hailed infrastructure development as a prominent tool for economic recovery, especially in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.
Malusi Mthuli, President of the South African Institute of Valuers. Photo by SAIV
However, the Economic Recovery and Reconstruction Plan announced in October 2020 – which includes ambitious infrastructure targets – has yet to be meaningfully actioned. The South African Institute of Valuers (SAIV) president, Malusi Mthuli has highlighted the many dire knock-on effects of stalled infrastructure development in the country.
“When infrastructure projects are lacking, the property valuation profession suffers – as well as the wider South African community,” explains Mthuli. “Professional valuation skills are scarce as it is. This small talent pool becomes ever smaller as experienced valuers choose to leave the country due to lack of local infrastructure development. When projects are put on hold – such as the Gautrain extension – valuers seek opportunities in places where projects are more likely to progress. They go abroad and this ultimately means that when projects are finally back on track in South Africa, we will be left without the technical skills capacity to move forward with them.”
