Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are an important mechanism to bring together the strengths of government and business, including the technical and management capabilities of the private sector and the risk-bearing capability of the public sector, to ensure infrastructure is built fast, at a high quality and then managed well.

There has been growth in public confidence that partnerships between business and government can lead to more trustworthy management of technology-led changes.

This makes the potential for such cooperation clear when it comes to developing infrastructure, business organisation Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso notes in her latest weekly newsletter of March 25.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has noted that South Africa needs an additional R1.6-trillion of public sector investment and R3.2-trillion of private sector investment and pointed out that regulatory reforms were making it easier to deliver infrastructure through PPPs.

Mavuso points out, however, that there is a trust problem in South Africa, centered on questions about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system, that is hampering investment.

A well-functioning criminal justice system must be there as a backstop, but there has been low confidence in this system because it has battled to bring to book the many people implicated in corruption, including State capture corruption, she says.

"However, there were two notable events during the past week, namely Parliamentary Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula stepping aside amid a corruption investigation, and the R475-million fine the Financial Services Conduct Authority issued to former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste before his death and prior to his intended arrest."

"The investigation of Mapisa-Nqakula has been high profile and shows the authorities are doing their work without fear. It is important for trust in government that the authorities are being seen to do their work," Mavuso says.

Similarly, the Steinhoff fraud was a major blow to the trust of investors and ordinary South Africans in business, and it is essential that those involved face the consequences. This case helps restore trust in business, she adds.

Trust is a valuable commodity in a society. It is fundamental to enabling all stakeholders to work together and to be confident that they are able to rely on counterparts. Business cannot work without it. Every businessperson must assume others will deliver on commitments without needing to turn to the legal system.

"The actions taken during the past week will have helped shift that sentiment. I hope this shift gains momentum with more arrests and successful prosecutions," she says.

She states that organised business is committed to building trust. One of the many ways business can do this is through supporting the institutions of the criminal justice system, such as by making available to the National Prosecuting Authority funds for independent experts to support investigations and prosecutions.

"Business also works hard in partnering with government to address our challenges as a country, such as by mobilising resources to work with government on resolving the electricity and logistics crises and providing technical expertise to work with and mentor civil servants to improve capacity from local government up.

"We remain committed to these efforts, and it is positive to see that the public trusts business and government to work effectively together," Mavuso says.