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Parliament, Thursday, 7 November 2024 – The Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and the Minister in the Presidency received briefings from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), and the Property Management Trading Entity (PMTE) on their annual reports and their performance for the 2023/24 financial year.
In presenting its performance report, the department gave an overview of its performance highlighting achievements and challenges faced during the year. The achievements included its unqualified audit opinion, though the PMTE received a qualified opinion; the government’s releasing of over 1 099 hectares of land to facilitate human settlements, land reform and other initiatives; expenditure of R2.9 billion on maintenance of the state’s immovable asset portfolio; and the completion of 77% of targeted infrastructure projects
The department also reported underperformance in some areas such as achievement of only 51% of its overall performance targets, which is a significant drop from the previous year’s 61%. The department told the committee that among its challenges was the delays in project funding from client departments, problems with the Land Affairs Board, and constraints on filling vacant positions.
The CIDB reported an improved performance, indicated by its achievement of 94% of its targets and obtaining a clean audit outcome for the first time in its 20-year history. During the engagement, the committee raised several questions and concerns. On unauthorised expenditure, the committee sought clarity on the high level of unauthorised expenditure related to employee compensation reported by the department. The committee asked for an explanation of the reasons behind this high level of unauthorised spending.
The department explained that these were historical issues dating back to the 2008/09 and 2011/12 financial years, when additional funding was required for the Expanded Public Works Programme and other initiatives. The department stated that it has not had any new unauthorised expenditure in the last 10 years.
On issues relating to people with disabilities, committee Chairperson Mr Rikus Badenhorst expressed strong concern relating to the reasons provided for underperformance in filling positions for persons with disabilities. He called for action against any managers found to be insensitive or inflexible in this regard, highlighting the need for the department to fully utilise the Employment Equity Act to address such discrimination.
Mr Badenhorst inquired whether the department sector plan had taken into account the priorities of the current government. He asked if the department’s revised five-year sector plan reflected the government’s focus on infrastructure-led growth and public asset management. The department confirmed that the priorities of the current government, including the emphasis on infrastructure-led growth and public asset management, have been incorporated into the revised sector plan.
The committee also raised concerns about the lack of an up-to-date asset register, which has hindered access to government leases and business automation processes. It sought clarity on delays in filling vacancies on the Land Affairs Board and the status of Special Investigating Unit investigations, which the department said had been completed but is waiting for a report to implement the recommendations.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND MINISTER IN THE PRESIDENCY, MR RIKUS BADENHORST.
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Name: Yoliswa Landu (Ms)
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E-mail: ylandu@parliament.gov.za
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