Minister declares war on project delays!

PUBLIC WORKS and Infrastructure Minister, Dean Macpherson, has declared that he'll not tolerate or accept shoddy work, delayed projects, or excuses from officials or contractors.

He said this when he delivered a speech on construction project delays in the National Assembly on Thursday, 14 November.

"I want to assure members of this house, and indeed South Africa at large, that we're committed to overcoming obstacles that have held back our nation's infrastructure," Macpherson said.

He said many MPs have shared stories of how delays have affected their constituents, who had hoped that schools, clinics, police stations, and community centres would restore the dignity they seek.

He said beyond that, delays have hampered growth and development of Mzansi's infrastructure, currently costing government close to R3 billion in delayed construction projects over the years.

"These delays are not just figures in a report. They represent stalled progress, halted economic growth, and deferred services for millions of South Africans. These are also crime scenes where individuals have been paid for work they've not completed," Macpherson said.

"They're crime scenes that have robbed people of hope and a better life. Disruption to construction sites impacts our communities directly. It results in half-finished buildings, idle construction sites, and, most importantly, wasted public funds - funds that could have been used to improve the lives of our people."

Macpherson pointed out that in this financial year alone, out of the current 206 infrastructure projects overseen by the department, 164 are experiencing delays for a number of reasons.

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He said one of the most striking examples of the delays is the Telkom Towers project in Tshwane, where approximately R1 billion was spent on upgrades over 10 years with little to show for it.

Another glaring example Macpherson used is the Sarah Baartman Centre of Remembrance project in Hankey, Eastern Cape, launched nearly a decade ago in 2014.

He said to date, R247 million has been spent on the project, yet it remains only 37% complete, with its budget inflated far beyond its initial scope.

Macpherson mentioned that going forward, contractors who don't meet their obligations on time and within budget will face immediate repercussions, including blacklisting.

He said to avoid further waste of public finances, the department is adopting a public-facing system that records tender processes, among other measures.

"We're creating a South Africa where the era of wasting public funds on projects that run over time and over budget comes to an end," he said.

However, Macpherson clarified that the challenge of delays doesn't rest solely with contractors.

"We've seen that client departments often contribute to these delays by withholding payments to contractors, which disrupts project timelines. We're addressing this by establishing payment protocols to ensure client departments meet their financial obligations promptly."