President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pledge to invest R940 billion in infrastructure over the next three years is a vital step toward stimulating South Africa’s economic growth. However, experts in enterprise asset management, like Pragma, stress that the success of this investment will depend largely on the country’s ability to effectively maintain and manage its assets—an area where South Africa already has proven expertise.
Bani Kgosana, Chief Revenue Officer at Pragma, explains, “The President’s commitment creates a unique opportunity to enhance the country’s public infrastructure network. But our experience across 46 countries shows that building new assets is only part of the equation—sustaining and maintaining them is equally critical.”
During his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ramaphosa highlighted the challenges facing many municipalities, particularly the lack of technical expertise and insufficient reinvestment of revenue into infrastructure maintenance. This gap presents an opportunity for South African innovation and expertise to play a key role.
“Through our work with various public sectors, we’ve seen the tangible impact of proper asset management on service delivery,” Kgosana continues. “In one case, a major metro’s electrical support services implemented our solutions and saw a staggering 2,500% improvement in operational efficiency. Effective maintenance not only keeps infrastructure running but maximizes the value of every rand spent on public assets.”
The President also emphasized the need to professionally manage utilities such as water and electricity. This vision aligns with Pragma’s success in managing similar assets. For example, Pragma’s collaboration with Tsebo at Albert Luthuli Hospital in KZN demonstrates how effective asset management can significantly improve public services.
“The President highlighted the positive results of scheduled maintenance at Eskom, which led to over six months without load shedding,” Kgosana says. “This model of proactive maintenance can be applied to water management, healthcare facilities, and other utility services. We’ve already helped municipalities achieve impressive results, such as cost savings, reduced environmental risks, and enhanced operational efficiency through our asset management solutions.”
In his address, President Ramaphosa also noted the transformative power of technology in government operations. “As we work to reform the public service and build the capability of the state, we will harness technology to transform the way that government works,” he stated.
Pragma agrees with this vision. The company’s approach to infrastructure management underscores the importance of three key elements:
- Smart Technology Deployment: Solutions like Pragma’s On Key enterprise asset management software.
- Skilled Local Contractors: A network of responsive, trained contractors ready to handle maintenance demands.
- Rigorous Tracking and Reporting Systems: Ensuring accountability and transparency.
These practices have already led to significant cost savings for various public institutions. For instance, proper tyre management in a metro’s refuse management department saved R10 million annually, and improvements in fleet maintenance reduced overdue vehicle services by 90%.
Main Image: Government Technical Advisory Center
