Public Works is vital in building a successful and thriving nation and the DA welcomed KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Premier, Thami Thuli’s announcement that the Department of Public Works would be reconfigured to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI).
Our province needs to expedite and fast track infrastructure development so that it can achieve broader economic growth and achieve the developmental goals that have been set out for it.
Ahead of the May 2024 elections, all political parties campaigned on the lack of reliable water supply to communities in KZN. Some communities have such sporadic and intermittent supply of water – if they are lucky enough to have any – that this has become their lived reality. This cannot continue. The provision and supply of clean water and sanitation is a basic human right.
The newly realigned and reconfigured DPWI is now in a position to be the implementing agent of choice for infrastructure projects within KZN’s government departments.
While water and sanitation may be a national competency, by establishing an Infrastructure Agency, KZN can look to opening dialogue with national and district spheres of government to bring this precious commodity to our residents.
Ahead of the elections, the DA KZN campaigned to bring clean drinking water to every tap in KZN. With the new structure of the department, we may well see this become a reality.
In an effort to address the backlogs in infrastructure programmes, national government has reached out to Private Public Partnerships to address this issue, as well as that of maintenance of existing infrastructure. The DA encourages KZN’s DPWI to emulate this practice and involve private companies in water infrastructure and other projects – through a performance-based private/ public partnership model.
There are many examples of these success stories. In the Ilembe region, Siza Water has been supplying clean drinking water to communities through an agreement with the District Municipality. There was minimal interruption in the supply of clean drinking water during the July unrest, as well as during the 2022 floods that devastated many areas in KZN. The same cannot be said for the poor residents of Tongaat and the Ugu districts, as well as those residents of eThekwini who fight to get water tankers to deliver on a daily basis.
The Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) grant does provide some much needed, although temporary job opportunities. And after hearing the most recent employments statistics, even more people will be desperate to find some relief through this grant. Regrettably, this grant has been highly politicized in the past with only those who are connected having access to opportunities. This must be closely monitored in a way that uplifts, strengthens and builds communities – and does not break them.
The DA welcomes and congratulate MEC Meyer on his appointment to lead the department. We also congratulate portfolio committee Chairperson, Msimang. Their task to turn around this department is a colossal undertaking.
Infrastructure projects across KZN have been hijacked by construction mafia masquerading as emerging contractors, leading to unnecessary delays in delivering infrastructure projects to our people. The list of delayed projects due to this corrupt activity is endless and it is criminal.
The DA welcomes and supports the hard line that the MEC has taken against this corrupt practice. We need to see the Premier, the MEC as well as the Chairperson standing firm against those forces which seek to break rather than build our beautiful province. We would also like the MEC and his department to take a hard line against service providers that fail to perform duties assigned to them. If they need to be placed on terms or listed, let’s do it.
During a recent portfolio sitting, during which department presented its budget, MEC Meyer and his team committed to performing a full audit on the 13 000 properties and buildings owned by the DPWI. This mammoth exercise will include determining whether property is used for the purpose for which it was intended. The department has undertaken to complete this within just six months.
This is a big step towards ensuring that public assets which belong to the people of KZN are being used in a manner that benefits/services their needs. It is also a step towards determining whether there are any assets that the province is currently accumulating unnecessary costs against.
This money belongs to the people of KZN. It must not be spent on a building, property or anything that does not give value or deliver services to them. If it is determined that funds could be used elsewhere to benefit the public in a more appropriate manner, action can and must be taken.
The DA acknowledges that the department’s budget of R1.738 billion is an inherited budget, with very little room for movement. There will need to be tight control over the finances and engagement with stakeholders to reduce property rates owed to municipalities. Starting the year with a deficit of more than R800million puts an already struggling department on the back foot.
The department’s mission is to improve the lives of the people of KZN through sustainable infrastructure development and property management. Public works and infrastructure are vital components of a prosperous and inclusive society. As we look to rescue our province it is imperative that government continue to invest in its development and maintenance of infrastructure.
The MEC has committed to focussing on maintenance of existing infrastructure which, for far too long, has not been deemed the essential function that it is. It is a non-negotiable action for the department. It makes far more fiscal sense to maintain public assets. Failure to do so leads to infrastructure becoming un-useable over time and inevitably requires the asset to be rebuilt at a far higher cost. This bad habit of many government departments and municipalities has become the normal and standard practice.
The DA wants to see proactive preventative maintenance on all assets belonging to the province. We implore MEC Meyer and his tea to ensure that this vital function receives the appropriate allocation during the adjustment budget period. KZN’s people have placed their trust in the government of provincial unity (GPU) to deliver schools, clinics, hospitals and other infrastructure that will improve their lives and we dare not let them down.
The voters of KZN have mandated the provincial government to work together. The DA commits to working with MEC Meyer and Chairperson Msimang to build a successful and growth-centred province. The only way to stimulate the economy and create jobs is to ensure that the province is investor friendly. Public Works and Infrastructure must be used to ensure that this becomes a reality so that we can create a more sustainable and resilient society that benefits all.
The DA will continue to conduct rigorous oversight over the MEC and his department. The money that government departments use to deliver services does not belong to them – it belongs to the people and it must be spent where it is needed most. The DA welcomes the cost-cutting measures that have already been put in place ahead of the budget process.
We will continue to hold those in power to account, whether these positions are filled by our own DA members, or those from within KZN’s GPU.