Johannesburg – 23 May 2025
Ahead of the main programme of the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) 2025, Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), in partnership with the University of Johannesburg’s School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy, hosted a high-level Pre-Symposium Thought Leadership Dialogue.
The session opened with a keynote address from the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Dean Macpherson, who underscored the critical role of local government in advancing inclusive infrastructure development.
“Local governance is where infrastructure either succeeds or fails,” the Minister stated. “The tools we design today must support inclusive growth from the ground up.”
The highlight of the event was the official launch of the Local Government Inclusive Growth Index (LGIGI) — a new policy tool aimed at helping local municipalities and provinces assess, track, and improve inclusive economic growth outcomes.
Developed by the University of Johannesburg in collaboration with ISA, the LGIGI introduces a data-driven, practical framework for measuring progress across social equity, economic participation, service delivery, and infrastructure access.
This first-of-its-kind index will support local governments in:
Identifying infrastructure and service delivery gaps
Aligning development strategies with inclusive growth principles
Strengthening data-driven decision-making in public administration
“The LGIGI offers a tangible, evidence-based way to strengthen local delivery. It ensures no community is left behind in the national infrastructure agenda,” said one of the researchers from the University of Johannesburg’s development team.
Veteran broadcaster Sakina Kamwendo moderated the session with her trademark clarity and insight, guiding a panel of experts and public servants through a robust discussion on governance, policy alignment, and delivery models.
This Dialogue served as a critical platform to reframe local government as a core enabler of national infrastructure targets, especially under the Infrastructure Development Act and the mandate of Infrastructure South Africa.
As SIDSSA 2025 continues, the lessons from this session will inform broader deliberations on how to translate vision into delivery at every level of governance.
