To download a soundbite of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, Ms Carol Phiri, click here: https://iono.fm/e/1738304
Parliament, Wednesday, 11 November 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure today postponed its virtual meeting with the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) on the review of safety standards at construction sites, after senior officials from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and the CBE asked to leave before the session could be completed.
The meeting follows previous engagements with the department, the Property Management Trading Entity and the CBE on building collapses.
The meeting began at 09:00 with a minute of silence in memory of Advocate Modibedi Phindela, Secretary to the National Council of Provinces. The committee was then informed that the Minister, Mr Dean Mcpherson, the Deputy Minister, Mr Sihle Zikalala and the CBE Chief Executive Officer, Dr Msizi Myeza, would have to leave at about 11:00 to attend Cabinet meetings. On the morning of the meeting, the department’s Director-General also advised that he had to leave early to attend another committee meeting.
The committee Chairperson, Ms Carol Phiri, and committee members strongly objected to the Director-General’s late notice. Ms Phiri noted that the meeting was scheduled well in advance. The department should have prioritised the committee’s meeting and informed her of any changes timeously, Ms Phiri said. She also questioned why officials were leaving for other meetings when this is their primary committee.
“The department must treat the committee as a priority, not an option. This shows that the department does not respect us,” said Ms Phiri.
Committee members said the absence of these officials would deny the CBE’s report the attention it deserves. Reported injuries and deaths at construction sites are higher than those at mining sites in South Africa, which makes this a serious matter. As the person responsible for translating policy into programmes, the Director-General must hear the CBE’s presentation and the committee’s deliberations first-hand and with his team’s full attention.
A majority of committee members agreed that it would be futile to proceed without the officials who are expected to provide answers. The meeting will be rescheduled. Committee support staff have been instructed to arrange a new date, which will be announced in due course.
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)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 083 358 5224
E-mail: jamajozi@parliament.gov.za
Arrange a tour