Latest news with #DepartmentofPublicWorksandInfrastructure
IOL News
09-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Opposition parties slam public works budget amid claims of dysfunction
The budget of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure came under criticism from opposition parties after Minister Dean Macpherson made a presentation to the National Assembly. Image: . Photographer: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers Opposition parties pulled no punches when they criticised the 2025/26 budget of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure in the National Assembly on Thursday. So brutal were the EFF, the MK Party, the EFF, Rise Mzansi and Build One South Africa that the presiding officer called to order Minister Dean Macpherson at some point during the debate for him to refrain from making signs and signaling to an MP. The MK Party's Nkosinathi Nxumalo said the department's budget was not pro-poor but protected the politically connected. 'It shields the failing institutions such as the IDT (Independent Development Trust) and CIDB (Construction Industry Development Board) to mention a few, Nxumalo said. Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading He said the department's digitisation programme remained empty promises and asked where its' immovable asset register was. Nxumalo accused the department of parading Expanded Public Works Programme as job creation success. 'The Prestige Management Trade Entity received R71m to maintain VIP residences and elite comfort. A lot of money makes sure the Government of National Unity is well taken care of. This is spitting in the face of the poor,' he added. The EFF's Sharon Letlape said the department was wired with dysfunction, underspending and policy stagnation. 'Each year the department is rehashing previous commitments with no one ever taking accountability for implementation. Digitisation of the asset register and a clean audit are permanent features of the department's annual plan, yet nothing ever gets done,' she said. ActionSA MP Malebo Patricia Kobe said Macpherson had shared his vision of South Africa being a construction site but a year later, economic growth remained below 1% and youth unemployment remained at its highest. 'The department fails to maintain infrastructure and allows assets to deteriorate and erode economic value instead of leveraging assets for financial sustenance. The Property Management Trading Entity relies on growing overdraft while struggling to collect user-charges owed by client departments,' Kobe said. Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana said the department was failing in its mandate. 'Infrastructure is collapsing, regulatory bodies don't speak to one another on vital projects and almost all projects this department embarks on are delayed and have cost overruns,' Gana said. He said when the department fails to deliver, no one marches to its offices. 'They don't know you are the cause of failure. The reason there is no service delivery is because of you,' Gana said. BOSA deputy leader Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster accused the department of splashing an estimated R5 billion on renting private offices. 'With over R150 billion in properties under control Department of Public works, we expect better and, in fact, we demand better. Until the department stops withholding land, wasting public money on rental instead of fixing state assets and return unspent funds while infrastructure crumbles, it will remain part of the problem. As my colleague said, you are the problem,' Hlazo-Webster said. In response, Macpherson thanked all those who spoke in support of the budget. He said the MK Party and EFF claimed there was no plan to fix and stabilise the IDT yet they fought him at every single turn when he wanted to fix the entity. Macpherosn dismissed their complaints about payment and lack of training in the EPWP, saying they were seeking to reform the programme. 'They can't have a cake and eat it... there is one thing I would agree with them. Maybe, it is time to look at the cost around prestige and there is a good place we can start and it is called Nkandla which cost millions of rands to maintain.' He accused the EFF of breaking its promises that led to it losing voter support last year in the elections. Turning to ActionSA, Macpherson said the party was distracting the public from its terminal decline and accused Kobe of previously reposting fake news about the IDT. He also said it was hard to find a voter who voted for Rise Mzansi, and that both Rise Mzansi and BOSA did not know what the mandate of his department was, saying it is not responsible for erecting parliamentary buildings.
The Citizen
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
South Gauteng deeds office remains open for business
The Department of Land Reform and Rural Development has reassured that the South Gauteng Deeds Office remains open and fully operational, despite recent media reports claiming the facility's closure. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the department acknowledged that while the facility is experiencing infrastructure challenges, services to the public and clients continue uninterrupted. 'The department has previously acknowledged the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) issues in the building, which include, sometimes, dysfunctional lifts, intermittent poor lighting, and other challenges. 'Additionally, we have indicated that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is in the process of securing a suitable building. It has been incorrectly reported by the media that services have been compromised,' the department said. The department said the area, which is currently experiencing delays, is the data capturing after registration. Despite these challenges, the department has assured that performance targets continue to be met and exceeded. 'In terms of the target of 95% of deeds and documents made available within seven days from the date of lodgements for execution, the office performance is at 97%. The office exceeded the target. 'In terms of the target of 95% of deeds delivered within 10 days from the date of registration, the office delivered 99% in 32 days. The backlog is due to the Occupational Health and Safety challenges,' the department said. To address the situation, interim alternative working arrangements have been implemented to ensure business continuity, and additional measures are underway to address the data capturing backlog. 'Members of the public and clients requiring services at the South Gauteng Deeds Office are advised to note that the office is open and operational,' the department said. – At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Eyewitness News
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
District Six pensioner likely to be evicted for a second time
CAPE TOWN - A pensioner who was forcibly removed from District Six during apartheid now faces being evicted from the area for the second time. The 73-year-old was outside the Western Cape High Court on Thursday, where he joined about 60 others who illegally occupied Irene Grootboom House in Darling Street, to challenge being evicted from the site. An Irene Grootboom house occupant, Barrymore Jossie, says being served with an eviction notice to vacate the Darling Street property feels like apartheid all over again. Jossie and about 60 other illegal occupants living in the three-storey building were handed eviction notices earlier this month. Jossie recalls his experience in 1972. "I couldn't understand... When I asked my grandmother why? She said the white man wants us out, bottom line. They don't want us... They want to get rid of anyone that's not of a proper colour." The 73-year-old has called on the government not to behave in a similar way. "That was in the past... If there is Ubuntu in this country, then why don't the government show it to us? If we are one, then give us a fair share." Housing activists Ndifuna Ukwazi are opposing the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure's application for the eviction of the occupants from site.
IOL News
02-06-2025
- IOL News
Public Works rejects 'untruthful narratives' on prison maintenance, reveals budget shortfall
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has responded to claims regarding the lack of maintenance for prison facilities, revealing a significant budget shortfall. Image: Armand Hough Independent Newspapers The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has strongly rejected what it calls 'misrepresentations and untruthful narratives' presented to the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, following widespread criticism over alleged failure to maintain prison infrastructure, including in KwaZulu-Natal. During a presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services last week, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) revealed that it paid over R842 million to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) in the 2024/25 financial year for maintenance services, but claimed no work was done, prompting MPs to question whether the DCS had requested a refund. The MPs also raised concern about the worsening state of correctional facilities, including the closure of the kitchen at Westville Correctional Service Medium A in KZN as it needs refurbishment which will cost R12 million. However, DPWI spokesperson Lennox Mabaso said the department "rejects and takes serious exception to the misrepresentations and untruthful narratives presented before the DCS Portfolio Committee.' Mabaso expressed that the department was 'deeply concerned' about the information presented to the committee. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading DPWI Director-General Sifiso Mdakane disputed that R842 million had been received, stating that financial records showed the amount received from DCS for accommodation charges in 2024/25 was R672 million. 'It is unfortunate to learn of this through the media when recently, the ministers of the two departments met and resolved that the accounting officers must lead a task team to resolve all the matters including payments, budget and state of facilities,' Mdakane said. According to the DPWI, the DCS occupies 12,282 properties at a cost of R14.33 per square metre, while the approved finance model sets the cost at R53.60 per square metre — a shortfall of nearly R2 billion annually. 'The R14.33 per square metre basic user charge paid by the Department of Correctional Services is insufficient to cover any basic services related to property management, ownership, or custodianship as per the DPWI mandate,' Mabaso said. He added that more than R520 million of the R672 million received from DCS went to municipalities for property rates, with only R152 million spent on maintenance and repairs. 'In fact, over a period of four years, the DCS has paid the DPWI R2.6 billion while the DPWI has spent R4.4 billion to service the Department of Correctional Services,' said Mabaso. 'This translates to a staggering R1.8 billion budget shortfall.'
The Citizen
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Unutilised public buildings in Mpumalanga converted into shelters for GBV victims
During an infrastructure imbizo held in the city, the minister of public works and infrastructure, Dean MacPherson, reiterated his promise to uplift dilapidated public buildings to be utilised for public good, particularly to address the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country. 'We have an important role to play in helping to provide the facilities needed to safeguard the most vulnerable in our society. Between 2019 and 2025, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure handed over only two properties to be used as GBV shelters. Yet, within just one year, we have more than tripled that number; 15 properties have now been handed over. In the weeks and months ahead, we look forward to increasing this number as we work to bring an end to gender-based violence,' said MacPherson at the Nelsville Community Hall on May 19. MacPherson has already handed over 10 properties to the Mpumalanga Provincial Government to be used as shelters for victims of GBV. The 10 properties, of which five are located in Emanzana, four in Lothair and one in Delmas, had previously stood vacant and unutilised, but will now be renovated by the provincial government. ALSO READ: KwaMhlanga entrepreneurs walk 300km to provincial government for change 'Of the 52 districts across the country, 47 already have such facilities and work is being expedited to ensure the remaining five receive shelters as soon as possible. The handover of these properties is part of the work we are doing to ensure that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure plays a meaningful role in improving the lives of all South Africans,' MacPherson said. The Mpumalanga MEC for public works, roads and transport, Thulasizwe Thomo, joined the imbizo. ALSO READ: Residents fed up with lack of by-law enforcement by City of Mbombela Thomo said the engagement forms part of broader efforts to address both systemic and community-related challenges in infrastructure development. 'These issues often include disruptions caused by protests or dissatisfaction with project execution. These coupled with systemic challenges such as project delays, cash flow constraints and inconsistencies in contract governance, impact project delivery timelines and hinder the growth of local small, medium and micro enterprises and emerging contractors. The imbizo created a valuable platform for collaboration between the national and provincial government to address these challenges in infrastructure delivery and highlighted the need for practical solutions to ensure more effective and community-focused development,' said Thomo. The imbizo was attended by some vocal community members who took the chance to voice their concerns to MacPherson and Thomo. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
