Governments around the world have realised over recent years that they are not in the business of owning, managing, operating and maintaining assets, says McNaughton. Their function is to provide policies, regulations, frameworks and guidelines. It is the role of the private sector to enhance the capacity of government.
 
With SA ranked amongst the leading countries globally in the law, policy and systems we have established for public private partnerships, the opportunities for the private sector are growing, both in numbers and in the innovative value-for-money solutions they contain, she adds.
 
Major PPPs have taken place in all key industry sectors. A large percentage of the projects currently under review are in the ecotourism, conservation, forestry and ICT industries. Other priority sectors include energy, transport as well as bulk and waste management.
 
Projects in preparation phase include:
* Revitalisation of Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital;
* Gautrain Rapid Rail Link;
* Peaking Plant the first independent power producer (R2,5bn).
 
The budget for PPPs for the national and provincial governments until 2009 is R18,5bn. SA law defines a PPP as a contract between a public sector institution/municipality and a private party, in which the private party assumes substantial financial, technical and operational risk in the design, financing, building and operation of a project.

Fully supported by the South African Facilities Management Association, FM Africa 2006 will be positioned as the definitive meeting place for all those involved in facilities management, workplace management, fire, health and safety, policing and security.