Parliament, Wednesday, 23 October 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development Chairperson today engaged with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJ&CD) on infrastructure projects and maintenance of courts facilities, among other things.
Committee Chairperson Mr Xola Nqola said the committee expressed concerns regarding the lack of/slow completion of infrastructure projects, including the building of new courts. “We understand that the department is on the receiving end and that it is the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) that is responsible for that. But we cannot allow the status quo to continue, because that department is delivering services at a very slow pace and in some cases not delivering services at all. The legacy report of the previous committee notes the lack of maintenance and the dilapidating conditions of our courts. It cannot be allowed to continue,” said Mr Nqola.
The committee heard that severe budget reductions have hampered the Department of Justice’s infrastructure projects. For the 2023/2024 financial year, infrastructure had an allocation of R44 315 million for all programmes and projects that needed to be implemented. Priority was given to projects already under construction. All projects under planning had been stopped. Service providers are sending notices of delay due to major budget reductions affecting the progress of works onsite.
According to the DOJ&CD, major maintenance and refurbishment is executed in collaboration with DPWI. It is funded by DPWI through the accommodation charges devolved budget. The DOJ&CD funds elements of a capital nature that may be required during the refurbishments.
The committee heard that the courts have unplanned and reactive maintenance that requires action towards restoring an asset to an operational condition. Such maintenance is intended to restore an item to an acceptable condition by reconfigurations; additions; renewals; replacements; or mending of worn, damaged or decayed parts up to a financial limit of R1 000 000. The DOJ&CD said this amount is far too little and said it should be increased to at least R2.5 million.
The committee further heard that one of the biggest challenges the DOJ&CD faces is that, in terms of the Government Immovable Asset Management Act, it is solely reliant on DPWI for project implementation. It highlighted the DPWI’s poor turnaround times in responding to maintenance breakdowns. It also said that contract management challenges are leading to poor performance and delays. Other challenges include delays in site clearances, which lead to projects not starting on time, delays in procurement that ultimately lead to vast scope changes and costs, growing maintenance backlogs at service points and capacity constraints in the provinces to implement infrastructure projects.
Mr Nqola said: “The committee fails to understand why land acquisition and site clearance takes so long. It cannot be allowed to continue.”
The committee also reprimanded the DOJ&CD for failing to monitor projects. “The problem we have is project managers in the department that fail to monitor projects, and they give it over to consultants, private bodies. They rely on what a consultant comes to present. It cannot be. We need aggressive consequence management,” emphasised Mr Nqola.
Mr Nqola said the committee resolved to engage with its sister committee, the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, on the matter in order to secure a joint meeting with both departments and their executive authorities. “We are proposing a planned inter-committee engagement where we can clearly state these are the particular areas where we think Public Works contributes immensely to derailing infrastructure development in the department,” the Chairperson said.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MR XOLA NQOLA.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Rajaa Azzakani (Ms)
Tel: 021 403 8437
Cell: 081 703 9542
E-mail: razzakani@parliament.gov.za
Arrange a tour