Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share ‘We will not be bullied’ – Macpherson hits back at DPWI detractors
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
‘We will not be bullied’ – Macpherson hits back at DPWI detractors
Public Works & Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson said on Wednesday his department is taking decisive action against corruption and mismanagement, warning those who he alleges want his department "to fail", that he will not be distracted, bullied and will not back down.
Making his address during day two of the State of the Nation Address debate, Macpherson said he takes a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and will hold officials and politicians to account.
He claimed that some members of parliament wanted his department to fail.
"While some members in this House seek out paid-for journalists and attempt to spread fake news through AI voice notes and falsified WhatsApps, including ActionSA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and some members in the ANC. But we will not be distracted. We will not be bullied. We will not back down. We will not be pressured by false reports, political collusion, or those being investigated for wrongdoing," he said.
The EFF recently opened a case against Macpherson for his alleged "corrupt interference" in tender processes at the Independent Development Trust (IDT), and for an alleged violation of National Treasury Regulations and the Executive Members Ethics Act.
Democratic Alliance (DA) national spokesperson Willie Aucamp said it was suspicious, and "entirely transparent", that the allegations came just as Macpherson was exposing, investigating and stopping serious corruption, including an R800-million scandal involving an oxygen tender awarded irregularly by the IDT, within his department.
ActionSA urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to immediately suspend Macpherson, pending the outcome of investigations into allegations of criminal and unethical conduct.
Speaking during the debate, Macpherson said he found the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure (DPWI) crippled by "neglect, inefficiency, and corruption."
He explained that morale was low, and the department's core mandate to build infrastructure, create jobs, and ensure public assets serve the people was failing.
Macpherson said in just seven months since he took over the DPWI, it has launched investigations into failed projects, including the R1-billion Telkom Towers in Tshwane and the R800- million IDT Oxygen tender.
"We are building a department with a bold vision, with staff that are motivated and where big ideas are embraced. One of my most important decisions has been to use public assets for public good," he explained.
He said State-owned properties have stood vacant for too long, and have attracted crime and decay, highlighted that his department has released public properties for requests for proposals, inviting the public and private sectors to submit ideas.
Macpherson said soon the department will convert "eyesores" such as the Barracks in eThekwini into mixed-use developments, where the first new skyscraper, in 20 years, will be built in the Durban CBD.
"In our first round, we will release 31 properties for redevelopment, valued at R1.4-billion. This is estimated to generate up to R10-billion in private investment, create over 165 000 jobs and generate close to R200-million in rental income for the South African government," he said.
He noted that over the next year, his department will attract R100-billion in private infrastructure investment, making Infrastructure South Africa the hub of all major projects.
Last week, the National Treasury issued Public-Private Partnership regulation reform, which Macpherson said is a tangible step toward achieving the department's R100-billion private sector funding goal.
He explained that the department will launch a Special Projects Unit to fast-track infrastructure projects and revive failed initiatives like the Sarah Baartman Centre for Remembrance.
"We will redevelop small harbours, such as the Hout Bay Harbour, into tourism and economic hubs - building the next V&A Waterfront which is set attract tens of billions of rands in investment and can create tens of thousands of...
View all episodes
By PolityPublic Works & Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson said on Wednesday his department is taking decisive action against corruption and mismanagement, warning those who he alleges want his department "to fail", that he will not be distracted, bullied and will not back down.
Making his address during day two of the State of the Nation Address debate, Macpherson said he takes a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and will hold officials and politicians to account.
He claimed that some members of parliament wanted his department to fail.
"While some members in this House seek out paid-for journalists and attempt to spread fake news through AI voice notes and falsified WhatsApps, including ActionSA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and some members in the ANC. But we will not be distracted. We will not be bullied. We will not back down. We will not be pressured by false reports, political collusion, or those being investigated for wrongdoing," he said.
The EFF recently opened a case against Macpherson for his alleged "corrupt interference" in tender processes at the Independent Development Trust (IDT), and for an alleged violation of National Treasury Regulations and the Executive Members Ethics Act.
Democratic Alliance (DA) national spokesperson Willie Aucamp said it was suspicious, and "entirely transparent", that the allegations came just as Macpherson was exposing, investigating and stopping serious corruption, including an R800-million scandal involving an oxygen tender awarded irregularly by the IDT, within his department.
ActionSA urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to immediately suspend Macpherson, pending the outcome of investigations into allegations of criminal and unethical conduct.
Speaking during the debate, Macpherson said he found the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure (DPWI) crippled by "neglect, inefficiency, and corruption."
He explained that morale was low, and the department's core mandate to build infrastructure, create jobs, and ensure public assets serve the people was failing.
Macpherson said in just seven months since he took over the DPWI, it has launched investigations into failed projects, including the R1-billion Telkom Towers in Tshwane and the R800- million IDT Oxygen tender.
"We are building a department with a bold vision, with staff that are motivated and where big ideas are embraced. One of my most important decisions has been to use public assets for public good," he explained.
He said State-owned properties have stood vacant for too long, and have attracted crime and decay, highlighted that his department has released public properties for requests for proposals, inviting the public and private sectors to submit ideas.
Macpherson said soon the department will convert "eyesores" such as the Barracks in eThekwini into mixed-use developments, where the first new skyscraper, in 20 years, will be built in the Durban CBD.
"In our first round, we will release 31 properties for redevelopment, valued at R1.4-billion. This is estimated to generate up to R10-billion in private investment, create over 165 000 jobs and generate close to R200-million in rental income for the South African government," he said.
He noted that over the next year, his department will attract R100-billion in private infrastructure investment, making Infrastructure South Africa the hub of all major projects.
Last week, the National Treasury issued Public-Private Partnership regulation reform, which Macpherson said is a tangible step toward achieving the department's R100-billion private sector funding goal.
He explained that the department will launch a Special Projects Unit to fast-track infrastructure projects and revive failed initiatives like the Sarah Baartman Centre for Remembrance.
"We will redevelop small harbours, such as the Hout Bay Harbour, into tourism and economic hubs - building the next V&A Waterfront which is set attract tens of billions of rands in investment and can create tens of thousands of...