Latest news with #MECforTransport
IOL News
22-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
MEC Siboniso Duma addresses contractor payment delays in KZN Transport
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport Siboniso Duma says delays in the payment of contractors constructing and rehabilitating road infrastructure in KZN was a concern. Image: Supplied The delays in the payment of contractors constructing and rehabilitating road infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal were a concern. The matter was highlighted by MEC of Transport Siboniso Duma during his budget hearing presentation and Annual Performance Plan (APP) at the KZN Legislature Transport Portfolio Committee, on Tuesday. Following the re-tabling of the national Budget by the Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, provincial departments were also required to re-table their budgets. Riona Gokool, MPL and DA spokesperson on transport, was concerned about allegations that contractors are not being paid for services rendered. This despite the department's significantly increased 2025/26 budget of over R13 billion: a 6.2% increase compared to the adjusted 2024/25 appropriation. 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 Gokool called for: A full disclosure regarding the total value of 2024/25 unpaid invoices and clarity on how the department plans to settle these in 2025/26. A full breakdown of all unpaid contractors from the 2024/25 financial year and the reasons. A timeline of when affected contractors can expect payments. Immediate steps within the DoT to ensure transparent and timely processing of contractor payments going forward. Ringfencing or conditional release of infrastructure and maintenance grant funds until the DoT provides a clear debt settlement plan and payment timeline. Clarity on whether non-payments will impact service delivery and infrastructure rollouts during the current year. The department's infrastructure programme has been allocated a substantial R9.2 billion, with R4.3 billion earmarked for maintenance and R3.8 billion for construction. Gokool said this highlights a mismatch between budget allocation and actual service delivery, particularly if contractors are not being paid or projects are not progressing as intended. According to Gokool, the APP and budget reports make repeated references to prior-year unpaid invoices, specifically noting a spike in expenditure during Quarter one of the 2024/25, which was attributed to late payments from the previous year. She said the department's over-expenditure in that period - R404 million instead of the projected R213 million - raises red flags regarding financial planning and invoice processing systems She added that the DoT's 2025/26 budget makes no clear provision or explanation for settling these outstanding contractor payments, and the progress on disbursing 2024/25 invoices remains unclear 'The ripple effect of non-payments not only affects businesses - it affects workers, their families and local economies - this despite a massive budget supposedly available,' she said. Duma stated that his department continues to prioritise the payment of contractors and that he requested a detailed report from his department heads of delays in payments for the contractors. He also called to prioritise contractors and service providers in rural areas where there is poverty. Duma said that DoT has made great progress in terms of the rollout of road infrastructure projects throughout the corners of the province. 'We have created job opportunities for thousands of people in deep rural areas. We have targeted young people who are worst affected by unemployment. The issue of floods and prolonged rainfall are natural disasters that are affecting our performance,' he said. Duma said that there would be penalties and punitive actions against contractors who squander money and abandon sites without finishing projects. He warned that contractors would be blacklisted and they will be taken to court to recover money.
The South African
04-06-2025
- Business
- The South African
Lesufi to launch Gauteng's tamper-proof number plate system
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and the MEC for Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela will pilot launch the province's highly anticipated tamper-proof number plate system on Thursday, 5 June. The launch is set to take place at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg. The South African previously reported that in December 2022, Lesufi announced the province would roll out new vehicle number plates in 2023 to help combat crime, corruption, vandalism, and lawlessness. He further emphasised this during his State of the Province Address in February 2023. During the launch of the registration process for manufacturers of vehicle number plates in July 2023, Diale-Tlabela said they understand the importance of ensuring that manufacturers and embossers of number plates operate within the bounds of the law. 'Over the years, we have witnessed numerous challenges arising from non-compliant number plates, such as compromised safety, an increase in vehicle-related crime, and a lack of accountability from manufacturers,' she said. On Tuesday, 3 June, Lesufi took to X (previously Twitter) to share the details about the launch. He said fraudulent number plates and cars without proper documentation are at the centre of crime in Gauteng, especially kidnappings, robberies, and murder, as criminals use undocumented cars to commit crimes. 'We are now ready to launch tamper-proof new number plates. A safer GP,' he posted. One of the forensic reports, which the Department of Transport commissioned in 2022, dealt with alleged fraud and maladministration at Gauteng Drivers' Licencing Testing Centres (DLTC). The findings were as follows: Fraudulent optometrist certificates Fee dumping (Fee dumping is the practice of applicants with arrears who apply for vehicle license renewal being allowed to proceed and what they owe in arrears is dumped to other accounts, including the accounts of deceased persons). Collusion between examiners, applicants and driving schools Lifestyle audits – assets not commensurate with salaries Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
28-04-2025
- IOL News
Inadequate funding leaves thousands of KwaZulu-Natal pupils without scholar transport
School children walking to school in KwaZulu-Natal. Despite a budget increase, there are still thousands of school pupils in KZN who do not have access to scholar transport. Picture: Independent Newspapers Archives Despite a budget increase this financial year, thousands of school pupils in KwaZulu-Natal will still have to walk long distances to school due to inadequate funding for their scholar transport. The Department of Transport revealed that it will be able to transport about 77 000 pupils this financial year, while more than 150 000 pupils who need transport remain on the waiting list. While tabling his budget last week, MEC for Transport Siboniso Duma stated that there are ongoing engagements between the provincial and national governments to address this issue. "Our commitment to the Learner Transport Programme is a testament to our dedication to opening the doors of learning. This initiative not only provides practical solutions to transport challenges but also inspires hope for a better future among our learners from underprivileged communities," he said. The MEC noted that the programme consists of 85 contracts spread across eleven districts. The department is finalising new agreements that will commence in July 2025, as the current contracts come to an end in June 2025. He stated that 433 schools will be assisted in the financial year 2025/26 with a total of 77 369 learners. The department has been allocated additional funds of R50 million, R60 million, and R100 million over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to deliver this service. Thus, the budget for 2025/26 amounts to R341.154 million, up from an initial budget of R291.154 million.
