Safe Infrastructure Is a Human Right, Says Deputy Minister Letsike

Letsike highlighted the important responsibility carried by building inspectors and other professionals in the construction sector.

Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, has called for a stronger human rights focus in infrastructure development, warning that unsafe, inaccessible and unequal spaces cannot be considered true development.

Speaking at the Institute of Building Inspectors Youth Sector Business Breakfast in Johannesburg, Letsike said the quality of South Africa's built environment directly affects citizens' dignity, safety and constitutional rights. She stressed that development should not be measured only through policies and legislation, but through the everyday experiences of people in homes, schools, clinics and public spaces.

Built Environment Shapes Equality and Inclusion

Letsike argued that access to quality infrastructure is closely linked to fundamental rights. According to her, housing loses its value when structures are poorly built, education is undermined when schools are unsafe, and healthcare access is weakened when clinics are inaccessible to persons with disabilities. She said every building and public facility sends a message about who is valued and protected within society. For that reason, infrastructure development should place human dignity, accessibility and safety at its core.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that the built environment is never neutral because it influences how people live, work and access opportunities.

Building Inspectors Play a Critical Public Role

Letsike highlighted the important responsibility carried by building inspectors and other professionals in the construction sector. She said their work extends far beyond technical compliance and serves as a safeguard for communities.

By ensuring that buildings meet safety standards, inspectors help prevent tragedies linked to poor construction, protect families from financial loss and strengthen public trust in development projects.

She warned that weak inspection systems can lead to building collapses, unsafe workplaces, defective housing and the misuse of public resources. Such failures, she noted, often have long-lasting consequences for communities and local economies.

Call for Greater Transformation in the Sector

The Deputy Minister also raised concerns about the continued underrepresentation of women, young people, persons with disabilities and professionals from rural and township communities within the built-environment sector.

She urged municipalities, professional associations, training institutions and private companies to work together to expand opportunities for new entrants. Greater mentorship, stronger skills development programmes and more accessible professional registration pathways are needed to build a more inclusive industry.

Linking her remarks to South Africa's broader democratic journey, Letsike noted that the country is marking 30 years of its Constitution, 50 years since the Soweto Uprising and 70 years since the Women's March. These milestones, she said, serve as reminders that the pursuit of dignity, equality and inclusion continues in many forms, including access to safe infrastructure and economic participation.