**5.2 Sources of risk factors in public infrastructure projects**

Based on the responses from the participants, the sources of project risk factors in Northern Cape province were categorised into 8 main project risk factors, as indicated in **Table 3**. These risk factors are categorised into eight (8) main factors: project consultants-related, contractor-related, project departments-related, political-related, community-related, materials-related, unforeseen events-related and corruption-related. The risk analysis indicates that the origins of risk factors affecting the project execution of the case study province are multi-faceted. The 8 factors were further analysed, and 48 risk factors were identified. The 48 risk factors were then grouped into internally and externally generated risk factors, as indicated in **Figure 3**. This further analysis was done by looking at the main risk factors and the respondents' statements concerning the main risk factors. This was done to further break down the main risk factors into details to assist policy implementers in quickly identifying risk factors contributing to the 8 main risk factors. Based on this, the researcher identified these 48 factors contributing to the main 8 risk factors identified as the main themes shown in **Table 3**. The risk factors were categorised into internal and external to enable project implementers to identify risk factors under and outside their control. This will assist them in implementing strategies that will best suit each risk category to help solve the problems and improve project performance. Knowing specific issues affecting you will assist in instituting specific measures suitable to address them rather than developing general strategies not peculiar to the problem. Thus, knowing the internal issues will help create internally generated steps that are workable to manage. The external issues can also be tackled using an external approach as they involve external stakeholders. Therefore, project implementers, funders, provincial government agencies, and departments must examine these risk sources and institute measures to effectively address these risk factors to deliver and achieve the project's desired outcomes.
