26 June 2025

The ANC Study Group on Public Works and Infrastructure, after receiving a briefing from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to the Portfolio Committee, has expressed significant concern regarding the oversight deficiencies of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

We have noted and raised serious issues about the Department’s adherence to its oversight role, particularly concerning the Independent Development Trust. The IDT is a critical development institution that has a critical role to play in infrastructure development, inclusive economic development and job creation.  We recognise that the Department has consistently failed to ensure compliance with the Shareholder Compact. Specifically, by not providing the IDT with projects worth R2 billion which is only a small portion of projects, the Department directly impedes the IDT’s ability to achieve its Annual Performance Plan (APP) goals. This failure prevents the IDT from attaining financial stability through management fees generated from these critical infrastructure projects.

We are concerned with the ongoing high litigation costs and persistent deficits within the IDT, highlighting the risk of misusing taxpayers’ funds. We demand that the IDT commit to a quarterly financial scorecard to enhance transparency and accountability. There is little or weak intervention from the Department to assist the IDT to recover monies owed to it by other departments.

Further compounding these concerns was the issue of the qualifications of IDT Board Chairperson Ms. Zimbini Hill. Despite repeated requests, we remain unsatisfied with the clarity provided around the Chairperson’s qualifications and the process followed for the reappointment of board members. We strongly urge immediate verification of these qualifications and recommend that the matter be escalated to the Public Service Commission and the Public Protector if sufficient evidence is not provided promptly.

We also note significant operational issues such as the high vacancy rate (16%) within the IDT and insufficient progress in enhancing employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, currently at a mere 2%. Urgent strategic intervention is called for to address these deficiencies.

We further express our dissatisfaction with the Department’s inadequate scrutiny of the IDT’s APPs. Our criticism also extends to the Department’s inability to perform a thorough due diligence and properly advise and guide entities, thereby creating a significant risk of misleading Parliament.

We support the meeting’s resolution that an ongoing lifestyle audit of all officials should be conducted and request immediate engagement with the National Treasury to address non-payment issues affecting the IDT’s financial stability.

We further emphasize that we will continue to rigorously monitor the Department and IDT to ensure its viability as a development institution. Moreover, the necessity for accountability, transparency, and the responsible use of public resources, reinforcing Parliament’s essential oversight role cannot be overemphasised.

Issued by the Whip of the ANC Study Group on Public Works and Infrastructure, Cde E Nkosi.

For enquiries, please contact:
Cde Hlengiwe Hadebe
Media Liaison Officer
+27 64 147 3276