This article has been supplied.The central question is no longer how much infrastructure we build, but whether it meaningfully improves lives.
Infrastructure is widely recognised as the backbone of economic development. But in South Africa’s current context; marked by deep inequality, high unemployment, and growing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) expectations; it is no longer enough to deliver projects. What matters is impact.
Economic development in South Africa cannot be reduced to the gross domestic product (GDP) growth. It must be understood as a process of transformation: reducing inequality, expanding opportunity, and building resilient local economies. Infrastructure enables participation by connecting people to jobs, markets, and services.
Programmes such as the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) have demonstrated that infrastructure can deliver more than core outputs. Beyond adding capacity to the grid, such initiatives have created jobs, supported skills development, and enabled community participation. However, these outcomes are only visible because they are measured.
This is where impact measurement becomes essential.
