Parliament, Saturday, 12 October 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure has today successfully concluded a week-long oversight visit to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and its entities.
The committee held fruitful and enlightening engagements with the board members and management of the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), Agrément South Africa, and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) on their annual reports.
Its final visit was with Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) to discuss its work as a key entity, preparing mega-infrastructure projects, which lies at the core of the Economic Recovery and Reconstruction Plan.
The committee was critical of the entities for not collaborating sufficiently enough to pool their resources and expertise to deal with challenges in the sector. It, however, commended the work of the entities in dealing with the complexities of the industry. It was pleased that, despite facing budget cuts, they found innovative ways to effectively fulfill their respective mandates.
Whilst visiting the CBE, the committee applauded the innovation of creating a national Log Book, a comprehensive electronic database that tracks and monitors built-environment professionals, artisans, and candidates. The committee further commended the CBE’s annual report which reflected the entity’s focus on transformation through a consistent focus on women and youth empowerment. The committee commended the CBE for achieving a clean audit.
The CBE told the committee that it was crucial to ensure that it regulates the professional registration of built-environment professionals. This serves to hold built-environment professionals accountable and prevents incidents like the structural failure that occurred at a building site in George that occurred in May last year.
The committee noted that despite having the DPWI as a mother body, the entities were not sufficiently collaborating their efforts although they serve within the same construction and professional built-environment sector.
The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Carol Phiri, said: “Sometimes there seems to be competition amongst the entities instead of working together to complement one another in their respective roles. We need these entities to function optimally through collaborative efforts.” The committee urged the DPWI’s Intergovernmental Coordination branch to find ways of strengthening this aspect of their mandate.
The committee also commended the Construction Industry Development Board for its improved audit outcomes as it achieved a clean audit for 2023/2024. The committee applauds the CIDB for acquiring its own building whereas its sister entities are leasing their office accommodation.
The committee further welcomed that the entity is generating its own revenue and has built online platforms that enable 70% of its clients to register online. However, the committee said it would like to see the CIDB put tight measures in place for those contractors who leave projects incomplete. They must be held accountable.
The committee also visited Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) where it expressed disappointment in the high number of acting positions at top management. It recommended that vacant posts must be filled as soon as possible. The committee expressed its intention to visit George in the Western Cape where a building collapsed claiming at least 34 lives in 2023.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, MS CAROL PHIRI.
For media enquiries or interviews with the committee Chairperson, please contact:
Name: Jabulani Majozi (Mr)
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E-mail: jamajozi@parliament.gov.za
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