Public Works Minister targets corruption, mafia and mismanagement in construction sector

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has introduced a six-point Construction Action Plan, designed to address South Africa's persistent issue of stalled and incomplete infrastructure projects.

"I think that if you ask anyone, they will tell you that they know of or have seen a project that is half-built or incomplete, so the country is littered with them. That is why we've had to respond with this plan, with the provincial MECs from across the country and say that we've got to deal with it, we've got to recover what we have lost and then put something in place that doesn't allow us to get into the situation again."

"We've developed the six points that deal with the systemic and root causes of the problem, from underperforming contractors to cash flow matters and to lack of digitisation, transparency and procurement. Those are all time-bound, and they have timelines, and people are responsible for them, and we have to report quarterly on the progress that we're making against those metrics now."

A key part of the plan includes blacklisting non-performing contractors, and creating a national database to prevent companies that fail in one province from winning new tenders elsewhere.

Macpherson said provinces will now have 'restriction committees' to flag and report non-compliant companies to the Construction Industry Development Board.

He added that R300 million has been allocated to help small contractors grow their capacity, but warned that future government tenders will only go to firms proven capable of delivering on their commitments.

"We must stop giving tenders and procurement to companies that cannot deliver, because it just ends in tears."

Macpherson also claimed progress in the fight against the so-called construction mafia, saying more than 850 arrests and 240 convictions have been made since last year, which has led to an 80% reduction in project disruptions.

"These things are not impossible to fix. They just require a bit of will, some tough negotiation and toughness in dealing with people. But we can get there. No longer is the reason that construction starts coming to a halt because of the mafia. I think we've got over that hill for now."

Macpherson emphasised that the goal is to ensure value for money and restore public trust in government-built infrastructure.

To listen to Dean Macpherson in conversation with CapeTalk's John Maytham, click the audio below: