President Cyril Ramaphosa noted on Thursday that though capacity support to provinces and municipalities, government is improving its ability to spend the grants allocated to infrastructure developments.

Ramaphosa was responding to the State of the Nation Address debate, where he explained that government is committed to putting an end to the practice of infrastructure funds been returned to the fiscus, unspent.

He said infrastructure was a problem across the country, including in the Western Cape, with many provinces returning unspent funds to the fiscus.

"…And I have often said there is no greater sin that we as public representatives and servants can do than to return money to the fiscus when money has been allocated for work that should be done," Ramaphosa said.

He said this practice was as a results of challenges in project preparation and planning.

"…And I am saying that must stop, money must work for what it is supposed to. I have also said infrastructure is the flywheel of our economy," he said.

Ramaphosa noted that through infrastructure, the country is able to ensure that there is economy growth and employment. He noted that after the decline in gross fixed capital formation over a number of years, South Africa is now posed to improve its infrastructure build so that levels foreseen by the national development plan can be reached by 2023.

He highlighted that challenges people in rural areas have been facing in crossing rivers during raining seasons, has been strengthened by government's resolve to seeped up processes of building rural bridges.

He said the rural bridges are built as part of the Welisizwe programme that allows children to get to school safely and they enable villagers to reach shops or visit relatives and reach services.

He said government is on course to complete 96 bridges that are targeted, saying citizens must be proud of how the South African National Defence Force also does real community orientated projects, by building bridges.

RESTORING GROWTH

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa noted that he has been clear, direct and honest about outlining all the challenges that the country's citizens are facing, saying despite all achievement in the country, many South Africans, young and old are concerned about the state of affairs in the nation.

He highlighted that many municipalities are struggling to provide the basic services people need.

"As we reflect on the journey we have travelled, we must acknowledge the severe challenges that we still face. Some who have come to speak here have just spoken about the positives but I have taken care to also speak about our weaknesses. I have taken care to also speak about our shortcomings, fallings but I have also taken care to say we must work together to correct what is broken now. That we must do,"

He explained that in doing so citizens must confront the country's past, which he says remains visible as we travel from suburban to informal settlement, from rich farm lands to poor villages.

He noted that over the last five years government have made significant progress in restoring the country's economy to growth and to create jobs.

He explained that when Covid-19 hit South Africa, the economy tanked.

"And just to demonstrate the resilience of our economy it bounced back and now it is above the pre Covid period. We have seen the results of this efforts in the recovery of our economy and the sustained increase in jobs since the end of Covid-19 pandemic," he said.

He added that the efforts were also seen in the growth the country's agricultural exports -South Africa now exports nearly half of its agricultural products. He said that in 2022 ten country's agricultural exports reached a record of R247-billion .

He noted that South Africa was one of the countries in the continent and it is the top food secure country, however despite this there are still people who go to bed hungry

He said there is a massive increase in international tourism.

He noted over the last five years Sou...