Deputy President Mashatile to address Public Works and Infrastructure MinMEC sitting in Gqeberha

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Thursday, 18 September 2025, attend and deliver the keynote address during the two-day Public Works and Infrastructure Minister and MECs (MinMEC) sitting scheduled to take place at the Eastcape Training College (ETC), in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape Province.

Deputy President Mashatile is attending the sitting at the invitation of the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Mr Dean Macpherson, in order to address the occasion on, "the significance of infrastructure service delivery in driving the economy and creating much needed jobs".

The MinMEC is a Government forum chaired by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, and includes the Deputy Minister of Public Works, Mr Sihle Zikalala, as well as Members of the Provincial Executive Councils (MECs) of Public Works and Infrastructure of all the nine provinces.

Its strategic focus is to reflect on the priorities of the department, mitigate the risks and evaluate progress on all the priority areas, while using public assets for the public good and contributing meaningfully to economic development and job creation.

The forum also provides a platform for strategic dialogue, knowledge exchange and policy alignment.

The MinMEC proceedings will be preceded by an oversight visit to the Umoyilanga Energy Project, an innovative energy security infrastructure that combines solar photovoltaic with wind and battery energy storage system (BESS) technologies. Upon completion, Umoyilanga will offer reliable dispatchable renewable power to the national grid.

This unique combination of wind and solar resources with battery energy storage system, enables Umoyilanga to provide 75 MW reliable energy to the national grid.

Government continues to upgrade and construct public infrastructure such as water supply facilities, energy, schools and health clinics to improve the living standards, restore dignity of the people as well as foster social cohesion and national unity.

Deputy President Mashatile will be accompanied by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Mr Dean Macpherson and Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala, Premier of the Easter Cape Province, Mr Oscar Mabuyane, as well as senior government officials.

Members of the media are invited to cover the proceedings as follows:

Site visit: Umoyilanga Dassiesridge Energy ProjectDate: Thursday, 18 September 2025 Time: 08h30Location: Umoyilanga Dassiesridge Energy Project, off R75 Kariega (Gqeberha)Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zYxZmruxcAHB1onZA

MinMEC - Keynote Address by Deputy President Mashatile:Date: Thursday, 18 September 2025 Time: 11h00 Location: Eastcape Training College (ETC), Spondo Street, Struandale-GqeberhaGoogle Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WgQbAYrxf1bib6t6A

For more information and accreditation, please contact, Sam Bopape (Presidency) on 082 318 5251 or Lesego Moretlwe (DPWI) on 082 957 3677.

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria