OREANDA-NEWS.   Today, Sasol and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to collaborate on infrastructure development in the Govan Mbeki Municipality, Mpumalanga and Metsimaholo Municipality, Free State.

Sasol entered into a public-private partnership with these local municipalities for sustainable development of both municipal areas in support of the 2050 Sasol vision. Sasol is currently investing in excess of R800 million in key areas, such as infrastructure, education and healthcare initiatives, in the Metsimaholo and Govan Mbeki areas between 2012 and 2016. The partnership with DBSA is envisaged to enhance the programme.

The DBSA specialises in infrastructure finance and delivery to promote economic development and has areas of priority, which include the Govan Mbeki and Metsimaholo municipalities.

“This collaboration with the DBSA will enhance our efforts in making targeted and sustainable investment in infrastructure to develop these priority areas where Sasol has operations. Together, we will leverage the DBSA’s expertise in rolling out and managing large-scale municipal infrastructure development,” said Maurice Radebe, Group Executive, Sasol Limited.

The Group Executive for Infrastructure Delivery at the DBSA, Ms Sinazo Sibisi said the bank is pleased to partner with Sasol to address infrastructure challenges faced by municipalities. This partnership signifies the Bank’s commitment to contribute towards the development of social infrastructure in municipalities, which is needed to improve the quality of life of millions of South African citizens.

The first project of this partnership will see the DBSA undertake a diagnostic assessment of all infrastructure-related capacity support requirements in relation to the municipal areas in order to identify critical catalytic projects for intervention and also leverage and/or mobilise funds from public sector sources. Such cooperation is in line with advancing the aspirations of the National Development Plan.