Getting Started With ISA
Infrastructure South Africa is the single-entry point for all infrastructure programs and projects registration in South Africa. The registration system creates an official repository of large public sector infrastructure projects and programs that are likely to seek fiscal funding for project preparation and /or capital investment, whether in partnership with the private sector or not. Registrations are managed by the ISA Portfolio Management Office (PMO). To register on the ISA platform,
public
Public Sector
Public Sector Project Sponsors need to demonstrate readiness to manage the Project or Programme by demonstrating that:
- the proposed Project or Programme entails an estimated capital cost of R1 billion (one billion Rand) or more; excluding financing costs; and
- a full-time project officer
- a project management team
- internal governance arrangements for the oversight of project preparation financial resources to complete the Early Business Case (EBC); and
- a project preparation plan to complete the EBC within six months of ISA registration
The Project Sponsor must submit the following in substantiation of the above as attachments:
- an explanation of how the estimated capital cost was calculated
- the name, designation, qualifications, and relevant experience of the project officer
- the structure of the project management team
- the names, designations, qualifications, and relevant experience of the project team members
- the line management accountability of the project officer
- the governance accountability of the project team
- confirmation of financial resources allocated for the EBC; and
- the six-month project preparation plan for the EBC showing scheduled tasks, costs, and milestones
- Letter of authority from a delegated representative of the organisation, attesting to the approval to submit the application to ISA and confirming the content is true and accurate
private
Private Sector
For Private Sector Project Sponsors, the application should contain/indicate:
- the proposed Project or Programme entails an estimated capital cost of R1 billion (one billion Rand) or more; excluding financing costs;
- the project description, its strategic aims, and objectives and how it contributes to the National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) or relevant sector master plan
- specific issues that Government has the authority to resolve and that the Sponsor is requesting ISA’s assistance to unblock impediments
- the estimated capital cost of the project excluding financing costs
- planned timelines for project preparation and implementation
- details of expenditure to date on the project
- details of the owners or shareholders of the project; and
- any existing feasibility studies and project reports that can be shared with ISA.
The Sponsor must submit a letter of authority from a delegated representative of the organisation, attesting to the approval to submit the application to ISA and confirm the content is true and accurate.
Key terminologies applicable to ISA registration include:
- “Early Business case” (“EBC”) – the first of three structured business cases which ISA requires a Project Sponsor to develop in the preparation of large infrastructure Projects or Programmes.
- “Project” – a management environment created by an organisation for the purpose of delivering one or more business products according to a specified business case.
- “Programme” – a series of planned projects which have common elements or inputs that can be addressed collectively rather than independently, thus enabling the efficient use of resources and wider impact.
- “Project Sponsor” – an organ of state, including national departments, provincial departments, municipalities, state-owned companies, public entities, and privately-owned companies registered in South Africa.
