Latest news with #WorksandInfrastructure
The Citizen
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Macpherson vows action on failed projects and EPWP reform
Minister to meet families of George collapse victims with final report in hand Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has vowed to restore public trust in his department by taking decisive action against mismanagement, repurposing idle state assets, and reforming the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). Marking his first year in office at a media briefing ahead of his budget vote on Wednesday, Macpherson outlined major investigations into failed state projects. This included the R600 million Telkom Towers deal and a collapsed oxygen plant initiative for hospitals. 'We wanted to investigate some of the most glaring examples of waste, mismanagement, and dysfunction. 'The draft investigation reveals a significant loss in terms of the value of the property owing to a series of damages to its infrastructure, and whether the project is still viable,' said Macpherson. Telkom Towers under scrutiny He confirmed that investigations into the Telkom Towers project and the PSA Oxygen Plant, managed by the Independent Development Trust (IDT), are expected to be completed by late July 2025. 'This was meant to be a flagship health infrastructure initiative built with donor funds, providing 60 hospitals with on-site oxygen capacity. 'Instead, it became a cautionary tale, with the draft report confirming many of my suspicions,' said the minister. Lifestyle audits are also underway for 400 high-risk officials, alongside a physical audit of the department's payroll system to root out ghost employees. ALSO READ: WATCH: Macpherson not deterred by 'political pressure or death threats' over R800m oxygen tender EPWP overhaul Macpherson also announced major reforms to the EPWP. 'Our view is that EPWP must be refocused around transparency, training and opportunity,' he said. According to Macpherson, planned changes include: Longer project durations, allowing for real skill development; Fairer compensation; Enterprise development and support for EPWP graduates starting small businesses; Monitoring the impact of constructed assets and their value to communities; Pilot biometric attendance systems to improve accountability and recruitment. The department has halted transfers to municipalities that fail to meet audit and financial control standards. ALSO READ: Macpherson's IDT appointments face urgent court bid State assets to generate revenue Macpherson revealed that unused state-owned properties are being repurposed for public benefit. Since taking office, 17 properties have been handed over for use as shelters for victims of gender-based violence and substance abuse. 'In the previous five years, only one such transfer was made,' he said. Plans are also in place to restructure state property assets into an 'investable portfolio' to attract private sector investment. ALSO READ: Macpherson hands over 10 properties in Mpumalanga for GBV shelters George building collapse Macpherson confirmed he will meet with the families of the 34 workers who died in the George building collapse on 19 July, following the postponement due to former deputy president David Mabuza's funeral. 'The collapse was entirely preventable. Accountability cannot be optional when lives are lost due to human error,' he said. The Engineering Council of South Africa has finalised a report detailing regulatory and professional failings, which will be handed to law enforcement. 'I assure the public […] we will do what is right. People will be held accountable,' Macpherson said. NOW READ: Zikalala slams 'spurious' allegations about R45m IDT lease deal, heads to Public Protector
IOL News
26-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
KwaZulu-Natal to launch its first dedicated XDR-TB facility to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis
KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer, with brown pants in the centre, during the oversight visit to inspect the progress at the XDR-TB facility under construction inside the King Dinuzulu Hospital in Durban on Thursday. Image: Willem Phungula KwaZulu-Natal will have its first dedicated extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis facility (XDR-TB). This was revealed by Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer during his inspection of the construction site of the facility inside King Dinuzulu Hospital on Thursday morning. The MEC said the R154 million facility will be the first one dedicated to the disease, which is among the top killer diseases in the country. Meyer said the construction of the facility will free up a lot of space in the hospital, which it had to use to accommodate TB patients since it did not have a dedicated facility for them. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ 'I am happy that the province will have a dedicated XDR-TB facility, which will cater to more patients from all over. This is a fulfillment of my responsibility as the Public Works MEC to ensure that the public gets quality health care in our province by providing necessary facilities in our hospitals,' said the MEC. The facility is a referral for all hospitals in the province, and once completed, it will have all the necessary equipment to ensure quality treatment for TB patients. The hospital's Acting CEO, Tumelo Mabesa, said there was a great demand for the facility since the hospital is the only one in the province that can treat XDR-TB. He said that because of the growing number of XDR patients, he was forced to use the pharmacy space and other facilities to treat these patients.
IOL News
04-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
KwaZulu-Natal government to blacklist contractors failing to meet project deadlines
KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure MEC, Martin Meyer, has warned contractors doing shoddy work for the government that they will be black-listed. Speaking at the handing over of a newly refurbished building at RK Khan hospital on Friday, the MEC expressed his disappointment that the R58 million refurbishment would have been long completed if the first contractor had finished the work, warning that the provincial government has taken a decision to black list all contractors that would abandon projects or fail to finish work on time and in budget. He said under his leadership as the new political head of the department he will make sure that contractors finish the work or face black-listing. He also warned those that fail to finish with the budget allocated that there will be no additional funds and there will be consequences for failing to finish on time with the budget that was allocated. 'Gone are the days where contractors would pull out from the projects and come back to do another work for this government. This is a new Public Works and Infrastructure and things have changed. All contractors must finish work or face black-listing. I need them to finish the projects on and in budget,' said Mayer.
