Civil engineering body warns SA infrastructure at risk of failure
Civil engineers have given the state of South Africa's
infrastructure a dismal 'D' rating.
Steven Kaplan from the SA Institution of Civil Engineering says on a five-point rating scale it ranges from A, world class, B which is fit for the future, C which is satisfactory for now and D is at risk of failure.
The industry body carries out assessments on the country's road network systems, water, electricity and rail infrastructure every five years.
It says the latest report paints a bleak picture of the state of public infrastructure.
Kaplan says South Africa's score is one level above the dreaded 'E' rating - which renders the infrastructure evaluated - unfit for purpose.
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He says one of the issues highlighted is our inability to perform maintenance on time and routinely.
He warns there'll be dire consequences if this pattern continues.
"The businesses don't function properly, which impacts negatively on the country's economic sustainability and also then has a direct consequence and drastically impacts unemployment which is already high.
“Inadequate social infrastructure, that's negative impact on the wellbeing of the community, on their health and the quality of life."
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