R521 Million Wasted: Public Works Minister Macpherson Vows Crackdown on Corruption

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has vowed to address corruption and waste in his department by conducting surprise oversight visits. This follows a damning Auditor-General (AGSA) report revealing R521 million in irregular expenditure for the 2022/2023 financial year. Macpherson expressed his frustration earlier today after meeting with Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke, promising urgent reforms to restore accountability.

The Auditor-General’s report exposed shocking inefficiencies, with only 20% of the department’s planned targets achieved during 2022/2023. A staggering 107 projects faced significant delays, wasting R3.9 million. Many delays were due to poor contractor performance. The report also noted that the quality of delivered projects remained unsatisfactory.

Irregular Expenditure Soars

Macpherson highlighted the disturbing rise in irregular expenditure, which surged from R98 million in 2020/2021 to R521 million last year. This increase is a major concern for the Minister, who emphasised that public funds are being wasted on projects that are poorly managed.

An earlier report by IOL News revealed another scandal, where R695 million was wasted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Telkom Towers in Tshwane. Despite renovations costing an additional R250 million, the building has remained vacant for eight years and has fallen into disrepair.

Minister Takes Action

Determined to reverse these worrying trends, Macpherson outlined steps to strengthen oversight and accountability. One significant measure includes removing officials’ ability to authorise spending up to R20 million without approval from an accounting officer. He also requested a skills audit at senior management level to ensure the department has the necessary expertise.

“The findings that irregular expenditure jumped from R98 million in 2020/2021 to R521 million in 2022/2023 is deeply concerning because it is public money that is being wasted,” Macpherson stated. He assured that corruption would face consequences, and public funds would be spent more efficiently going forward.

Committed to Reforms

While acknowledging that addressing these issues will take time, Macpherson remains committed to building a more professional and transparent public service within the department. By collaborating closely with the AGSA, he hopes to improve reporting, expose unethical practices, and ultimately achieve departmental targets within a reasonable timeframe.

“This is not an overnight journey, but it is one that I am determined to undertake. Our actions are part of a broader plan to turn South Africa into a construction site that truly benefits its people,” he concluded.