Mamabolo announce the appointment of an advisory panel for the state-owned pharmaceutical company

MEC for Finance Jacob Mamabolo today announced the appointment of a 12-member Advisory Panel for the State-Owned Pharmaceutical Company, a development that demonstrate a significant milestone towards the achievement of Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s priorities.

The MEC said the Advisory Panel for the State-Owned Pharmaceutical Company includes individuals with experience and expertise in their areas of specialisation, and the names are as follows: 

Mr Amos Monyela – Chairperson

Dr Harsha Somaroo

Dr Neelaveni Padayachee

Ms Lize King

Prof Rudo Mathivha

Prof Sithembiso Velaphi

Mr Saul Dikgang

Ms Swasthi Soomaroo

Prof Sehlare Makgetlaneng

Dr Sebayitseng Hlatshwayo

Dr Zinhle Makatini

Mr Khamusi Philip Mutoti

“We met with this panel last week to mark the beginning of a journey towards ensuring that this strategic entity is established in the province”, he said.

“On the State-owned Bank we have in-principle agreement with UNISA to provide the advisory support for the establishment of the state bank. 

“The focus in 2023/24 financial year is to develop the business cases for the State-owned Bank and the State-owned Pharmaceutical Company in line with the proposed form of establishment as outlined in the legal due diligence reports,” MEC Mamabolo explained. 

Alternative sources of funding for infrastructure projects

MEC Mamabolo further announced that the several projects of the Gauteng Infrastructure Financing Agency have reached significant milestones. The focus this year is to push these projects to reach the stage of market release and financial closes. These includes, amongst others, the following:

• Gauteng Schools Programme: GIFA raised R1,5 billion from the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) for the design and construction of 18 schools. Already a tender for the Project Management Unit (PMU) has been issued to the market. The PMU will ensure that the delivery of the 18 schools is done on time and diligently. The design and construction tender for 18 schools will be issue in early June 2023.

• Innovation Hub – EB3: The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and the private party have signed the main lease agreement that will result in SANSA acquiring operating space at the Innovation Hub as the anchor tenant. The private party has also agreed on the terms of the funding/ loan agreement for the design and construction of the Enterprise Building 3. In 2023/24 the focus will be on concluding the PPP Agreement and starting construction. 

• Merafong Solar Farm Cluster: The project was released to market in 2022/23 financial year and six (6) independent power producers were selected. Allocation of 30 000 hectares of land to the developers was completed including the lease negotiations. The signing of the lease agreements between the six developers and the Bokamoso Ba Rona (NPC) will be completed in Quarter 1 of 2023/24 financial year. The key focus going forward would be on concluding off-take agreements and construction of the solar farm clusters.

“A total of R63. 7 million has been allocated from the Gauteng Provincial Treasury to fund the operations of GIFA in 2023/24 financial year,” he said. 

“So far 73% of the R157 544 million allocated to the Project Preparation Facility has been committed. This money has funded over 20 feasibility studies of infrastructure projects that have been sourced from provincial departments and municipalities in the past 6 years,” MEC Mamabolo added.