Cape town: Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has reinforced the government's dedication to ensuring that infrastructure investment remains the cornerstone of South Africa's economic development. The Minister delivered the 2026 Budget Speech in Parliament, emphasizing the critical role of infrastructure in fostering long-term economic growth, enhancing service delivery, and creating jobs. According to South African Government News Agency, Godongwana highlighted the government's strategic shift in spending towards public infrastructure that promotes economic growth. In last year's Budget Speech, the Minister announced that approximately R1 trillion would be dedicated to infrastructure investment over the medium term. This substantial allocation includes R577.4 billion earmarked for state-owned companies and public entities, R217.8 billion for provinces, and R205.7 billion for municipalities, with a significant portion directed towards transport and logistics. The Minister also provided updates on project fund ing, noting that the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) has approved R21.9 billion for five major projects since moving to quarterly funding windows. Notable among these are Transnet's coal and iron ore corridor projects, which aim to restore rail capacity significantly, and the Polokwane regional wastewater program. In 2025, the government issued an infrastructure bond, raising R11.8 billion to support BFI-approved projects. Godongwana announced that proposals for the 2026/27 funding cycle are now open, with detailed information available on the National Treasury's website. The call is directed at public institutions in key economic sectors to submit proposals addressing funding gaps and strategic needs. Potential projects include critical social infrastructure such as courts, correctional facilities, police stations, new tertiary institutions like the proposed Ekurhuleni University, student accommodation, and health care facilities such as the Dr George Mukhari Academic and the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital.