WeeklySA_AdminPARTNERSHIP: World-class infrastructure, disciplined cost management and stronger partnerships essential to unlocking manufacturing growth and boosting South Africa’s industrial competitiveness, says quantity surveying expert Arthur Quphe…
By WSAM Reporter
South Africa’s industrial ambitions will only be realised if the country invests in quality infrastructure backed by sound governance and professional cost management, South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP) president Arthur Quphe said at the Manufacturing Indaba 2026.
Addressing delegates at the annual gathering, Quphe said infrastructure investment and industrialisation must go hand in hand if South Africa is to strengthen its manufacturing sector, attract investment and create sustainable economic growth.
He argued that manufacturing competitiveness depends on infrastructure that is both financially viable and capable of supporting long-term industrial expansion.
“Every successful manufacturing economy is built on quality infrastructure. Quantity Surveyors have a strategic responsibility to ensure that infrastructure is affordable, bankable, sustainable, and delivers maximum value to society,” he said.
Quphe said quantity surveyors play a critical role beyond traditional cost estimation by helping ensure that infrastructure projects are delivered efficiently, remain financially sustainable and generate long-term value for the economy.
He called for closer collaboration between government, the private sector, academic institutions and built environment professionals to accelerate infrastructure delivery while strengthening local manufacturing capacity and expanding skills development.
According to Quphe, coordinated partnerships are essential to addressing infrastructure backlogs, improving project execution and positioning South Africa as a more competitive manufacturing destination.
The SACQSP says it remains committed to promoting the quantity surveying profession as a strategic partner in the country’s infrastructure-led development agenda.
The council believes that effective cost leadership and professional oversight can help maximise public investment, improve project outcomes and support South Africa’s long-term industrial competitiveness.
As the government continues to prioritise infrastructure as a catalyst for economic recovery, the council says quantity surveyors have an increasingly important role to play in ensuring that projects are delivered on budget, offer value for money and contribute to sustainable economic development.
