By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) Dean Macpherson has welcomed the blacklisting of 40 contractors since the start of his term.
Macpherson, who belongs to the Democratic Alliance (DA) — the second-largest party — was appointed to his post in June when a government of national unity took office after the May 29 elections failed to produce an outright winner.
The minister, said, if given a full five-year term in the position, expects the department to look “very different” by the next national election.
In a statement on Sunday, he said this was a dramatic turnaround after only one was blacklisted since 2002.
The Department said the move by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) delivers on the Minister’s promise to act against non-performance and corruption, sending a clear message that public funds must deliver quality infrastructure.
CIDB CEO Bongani Dladla said there has been an increase in contractors coming back to the sector who had previously become disillusioned by the sector not being safe.
Dladla also confirmed the CIDB has 278 cases that are currently under investigation of contractors who could have received their grading fraudulently or are not fully playing by the rules when it comes to procurement.
He said the CIDB is also introducing compulsory reporting on part performance of contractors because a lot of money is wasted when contractors hop around projects and do not finish them.
Macpherson said the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure was refining its blacklisting processes to act faster and recover public funds as part of broader reforms to clean up the Department to ensure it supports job-creating economic growth.
The Minister said the blacklisting, which sends a clear signal that the Department is serious about acting against non-performance, means that these contractors are now prohibited from bidding for tenders or being awarded work by the Department.
“The move to blacklist these non-performing contractors is exactly what we promised South Africans when I took office – that those who underperform or engage in corruption will be held accountable and removed from the system.
“The CIDB’s action to blacklist these contractors means we have put our words into action and sent a clear message: the days of impunity are over, “Macpherson said.
He said this stands in stark contrast to the single company that was blacklisted previously since 2002.
The blacklisted contractors are now prohibited from bidding for tenders or being awarded work by the DPWI and its entities.
“That situation was completely unacceptable in an environment where construction projects remained incomplete or poorly built across the country. It undermined trust in the State’s ability to act decisively,” he added.
Macpherson said over the last year we have worked to strengthen the Department by filling key vacancies, introducing new accountability mechanisms, and tightening our procurement processes.
Meanwhile the national government said it has set aside R1 trillion to improve infrastructure in South Africa over the next three years.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile revealed this during his keynote address in the MinMEC meeting in Gqeberha,in the Eastern Cape.
Mashatile believes that prioritizing infrastructure development is key to economic growth. He said the goal is to improve infrastructure to adequately meet demands of the communities.