The government has about 81,000 properties in total, but only 56,000 have had assessments done to estimate maintenance costs. The current backlog will cost R30-billion — money the department doesn’t have. The longer it takes to clear the backlog, the more it will cost as buildings grow older and their conditions deteriorate.

The departments with the biggest maintenance backlogs are those responsible for the country’s safety and security:

Buildings used by the South African Police Services require R8.8-billion to maintain and repair.
Those used by Correctional Services, including prisons, require R8.4-billion.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, including court buildings throughout the country, requires R4.6-billion.
The Department of Defence requires R4.1-billion.
Of the government’s 81,000 buildings, only 1% are in excellent condition. 13% are in a good condition, 77% in fair condition, and 9% in poor or very poor condition.

Written by GroundUp and The Outlier and republished with permission. The original article can be found here.

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The guards work for Reliable Guards and Mantl Five. These security companies have contracts with the departments to look after offices and other sites in Cofimvaba and Tsomo town. The strike started last Friday after more than 20 guards were fired last month, allegedly for joining unions.

The fired guards were expecting to be paid on 12 and 15 August. When they did not receive their money, the guards closed the public works department’s site in Tsomo.

On Monday this week they protested outside the education offices in Cofimvaba, demanding their pay and asking the department to intervene. On Tuesday they closed the public works offices, also in Cofimvaba, preventing employees from going in.

The guards want these departments to force the employers to take them back. Some said they had been with these companies for close to seven years.

Guard Olwethu Zekani said the dispute started a few months ago after they complained about being underpaid, not getting annual leave or family responsibility leave, and not having a provident fund.

She had worked for Reliable since 2022 and was paid R6,182 a month, she said.

“We are not getting paid overtime, night shift, weekends or for the public holidays. When we raised these issues we were ignored. That is why some of us joined the unions. But what we didn’t expect was to be fired,” said Zekani. She said she is still waiting for her last payment.

The workers are represented by the African Meat Industry and Allied Trade Union (AMITU) and the Progressive Allied and Travel Union of South Africa (PATU).

Shop steward Mthetho Boyse, who works for Mantl Five, said last month workers from sites in Tsomo and Cofimvaba were dismissed after the employers found out that they had joined unions.

Boyse said the minimum wage for security guards is R31 an hour.

“Sometimes I would work seven nights a week including weekends only to be paid R6,000. When we asked for a meeting to raise these issues we were ignored,” said Boyse.

PATU deputy general secretary Jackson Thiso said after several attempts to meet the employers, workers had taken their grievances to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). He said the employers had identified the workers who joined the unions through the CCMA application.

“Instead of solving the issues they decided to force the workers to leave the union or be fired. After they refused they were then fired,” said Thiso.

“We are talking about people who have been working for these companies for more than seven years and are only getting month to month contracts and that is not fair. Hence we want these departments to intervene,” he said.

At the education department on Monday, only management was allowed to enter after an hour of negotiations between department officials and the guards’ representatives.

Reliable Guards security director Samora Madikane was called. After a five hour meeting with the guards’ representatives and the department officials, said Boyse, Madikane had made it clear that he would only take the guards back if they left the unions. But workers refused.

Guards who worked at the education department were then paid on Monday night.

Approached by GroundUp, Madikane refused to comment. Mantl Five director Sipho Tunyiswa first said he was busy and has since not taken GroundUp’s calls.

Thiso said the education department had promised to take the matter to the provincial offices in Bisho. The union had not been able to speak to managers in the public works department and guards had vowed to continue blocking the entrances until they are heard.

Questions sent by GroundUp to the education department spokesperson Vuyiseka Mboxela on Monday were not answered. Provincial Public Works and Infrastructure spokesperson Vuyani Nkasayi said the department was engaging with the employers.

The matter will be heard at the CCMA on 9 and 17 September.

This article was republished with permission from GroundUp, the original article can be found here.

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“The handover of these properties is part of the work we are doing to ensure that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure plays a meaningful role in improving the lives of all South Africans. By working together, we are using public assets for the public good to build a better country. Let’s build South Africa,” the Minister said at a  handover ceremony in Mpumalanga.

Five of the properties are located in Badplaas, four in Lothair, and one in Delmas.

They had previously stood vacant and unutilised by the department but will now be renovated by the Mpumalanga provincial department.

Macpherson said Monday’s handover to the Mpumalanga MEC for Social Development, Brenda Moeketsi, aligns with the department’s mission to ensure that public properties do not stand idle, but are instead used for the public good.

The Minister was joined by the Mpumalanga MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport, Thulasizwe Thomo.

The handover follows a similar transfer last month of five unutilised properties in Waterkloof, Pretoria, to the Gauteng Social Development MEC, Faith Mazibuko.

“When I was appointed Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, I promised that the days of public buildings standing empty and being underutilised were coming to an end. Instead, I want public buildings to be used for the public good—particularly to help us address the scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa,” Macpherson said.

“As a department, we have an important role to play in helping to provide the facilities needed to safeguard the most vulnerable in our society,” he said adding that 15 properties have now been handed over.

“In the weeks and months ahead, we look forward to increasing this number as we work to bring an end to gender-based violence.”

Minister Macpherson emphasised that his department remains firm in its commitment to working with Social Development Minister Nokuzola Tolashe and other key stakeholders to ensure that every district in South Africa has access to a fully functional GBV shelter.

According to the department, of the 52 districts across the country, 47 already have such facilities, and work is being expedited to ensure the remaining five receive shelters as soon as possible.

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On the evening of 22 January 2025, security personnel stationed at the government building confronted the group, who were armed with dangerous weapons. The group is alleged to have carried out similar acts of vandalism in the area. The confrontation resulted in two suspects being shot while the others fled. The group reportedly used pangas to intimidate and attack security guards as they attempted to steal materials likely intended for sale to scrap metal dealers.

Public Works House has been a frequent target of criminal activity, with incidents of fencing and infrastructure theft becoming alarmingly common. The DPWI has expressed concerns about the connection between these acts of vandalism and the illicit scrap metal trade, which undermines both the economy and vital infrastructure.

The injured suspects were transported to the hospital, and security personnel involved in the incident are being questioned as part of an ongoing police investigation. The department has pledged to enhance security measures at all public assets, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding infrastructure meant to serve the public good.

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The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), in collaboration with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), will host the summit at the Durban International Convention Centre in KwaZulu-Natal on 19 November.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dean Macpherson, has expressed his strong commitment to addressing crime at construction sites across the country.

“This is a fulfilment of a promise I made shortly after taking office to host a summit to deal with construction site stoppages nationwide.

“Construction sites should be places where workers build not just structures, but also a sense of safety, respect and trust. Unfortunately, crime has been a persistent challenge in the sector, undermining productivity, escalating costs and putting lives at risk,” Macpherson said.

The Minister committed to working with industry stakeholders to find solutions for safer work environments and underscored the government’s dedication to eliminating crime, ensuring that workers return home safely each day.

The SAPS will also play a key part in the stakeholder engagement as law enforcement plays a critical role in maintaining security. Accordingly, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is expected to address the summit to reinforce the role of the police in combatting crime in the sector.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is also expected to speak at Tuesday’s summit. Other Speakers will include the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal and the Mayor of eThekwini.

The CIDB, a key partner in ensuring the professionalism and development of the construction industry, is equally dedicated to creating a conducive environment for effective delivery of infrastructure.

Bongani Dladla, CEO of the CIDB, highlighted the importance of industry-wide collaboration in promoting security and efficiency in construction.

“We’re looking forward to playing an active role in this summit as we strongly believe that the construction industry is vital to our nation’s growth, and addressing crime is essential to protecting both assets and the lives of those who build our future. The CIDB is committed to supporting initiatives like the National Construction Summit to set new safety standards and collaborate with the DPWI, law enforcement, and industry partners to make construction sites safer and more efficient,” said Dladla.

The summit will feature a series of expert-led discussions on legislation and policy, security and law enforcement, community engagement, empowerment, skills development and other strategic topics to equip stakeholders with the tools needed to combat crime on construction sites.

It will also provide an opportunity for networking and forging partnerships aimed at improving site security and promoting the safety of workers.

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According to Macpherson, the report should detail who is to blame and what will be the best solution moving forward for the Telkom Towers to limit further wastage of taxpayer money.

Earlier this month, the Minister conducted an oversight inspection at the Telkom Towers.

The building was procured to serve as the South African Police headquarters in 2016 to the tune of nearly R700 million. Officials say to date, over R200 million has been spent on renovations and other services but the building remains empty due to lapses.

Addressing the media in Cape Town on Wednesday, Macpherson said in the coming weeks, a tender for a second independent investigation will be released to investigate leases which have been established by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to ensure that these leases were completed within the confines of the law and that the state is paying market-related prices for each.

“Shortly after my appointment, we initiated an investigation into an R300 million IT security breach that spans a decade. The investigation builds on the work Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala started earlier this year when vulnerabilities were discovered in the department’s Information and Technology Systems,” the Minister said.

Macpherson said preliminary reports since the extent of the security breach was found suggest that the amount of money stolen over the period confirms the seriousness of the matter.

Macpherson has further authorised the department’s legal services to assist the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) with litigation at the Special Tribunal to recover up to R20 million against Kroucamp Plumbers.

“This case involves tenders received by Kroucamp Plumbers in 2015 and 2018, where procurement processes were found to be unlawful and unconstitutional.

“The SIU discovered that payments were made to officials in our department amounting to over R300 000, and these actions are indicative of corruption that we are determined to root out,” the Minister said.

Macpherson said his goal is to make the department play a central role in using public assets for the public good and to help turn South Africa into a construction site which will ignite economic growth and create jobs.

“Over the past eight weeks, I believe we have started to lay the foundation for the work to begin to see cranes in the sky all over South Africa,” Macpherson said.

Central to the department’s strategy for increased infrastructure investment is to see the expansion and the capacitation of Infrastructure South Africa (ISA).

“We want to ensure that ISA functions as the single point of entry for all priority infrastructure projects, streamlining processes and reducing inefficiencies that have previously hampered project delivery,” Macpherson said.

This will not only improve efficiency but also ensure that the department prioritise projects with the greatest economic and social impact.

“And, this will increase investor confidence in public infrastructure projects, knowing that where Infrastructure South Africa is involved, construction projects are completed on time and within budget.

“We are accelerating broader budget reforms by collaborating with the National Treasury to streamline the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) process and establish an Infrastructure Fund that reports directly to the National Treasury.

“We are diversifying funding sources for infrastructure projects by focusing on PPPs, blended finance, and social infrastructure programmes. ISA will work closely with the National Treasury to direct investments toward projects with the highest GDP [gross domestic product] impact and job creation potential,” the Minister said.

The Minister said as the department pushes forward with reforms to ignite infrastructure investment, it was important that the department get its own house in order to ensure that it delivers on the core mandate.

“Accountability and transparency should be at the core of everything we do, while we work to eliminate corruption and abuse in all spheres of our organisation.”

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In a statement, Minister Macpherson said they have jointly agreed that an urgent meeting is required in every province, with all the respective MECs and the Ministers in the Law Enforcement cluster. MacPherson and Meyer have indicated that should be held in KwaZulu-Natal.

The decision follows a meeting between Macpherson and Meyer, during which Meyer presented a report detailing the resurgence of construction mafia activities in KwaZulu-Natal.

“Shortly after I was appointed as Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, I vowed to deal decisively with the construction mafia and to restore the rule of law at construction sites across the country.

“During a recent oversight visit to the uMkhomazi water project, I learnt how an altercation with the construction mafia led to the death of three people and the assault of another. This is simply unacceptable. We will never be able to attract additional infrastructure investment, and turn the country into a construction site, while this lawlessness continues,” Macpherson said.

The Minister stated it is imperative to host the meeting with Public Works MECs across the country, along with the Ministers in the Law Enforcement cluster to develop a comprehensive plan to turn the tide against the construction mafia “to not only attract additional infrastructure investment but protect the lives of our people.”

Beyond addressing the construction mafia, the Macpherson and Meyer discussed the potential reform of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), to ensure it benefits recipients and contributes to job creation.

The two further explored how national and provincial governments could collaborate to expand infrastructure development in KwaZulu-Natal.

“KwaZulu-Natal is a province of such immense potential, and I therefore look forward to working closely with the MEC to unlock economic growth and job creation in the province,” he said.

The Minister added that he will be meeting with MECs and mayors in other provinces in the week ahead, to determine how they may work together to improve the lives of South Africans

“It is only through working together towards a common vision that we can unlock South Africa’s potential. Let’s Build South Africa,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Reaction Task Team established to curb construction mafia related activities has arrested five suspects for intimidation and disturbance of infrastructure. The five were apprehended at uMsunduzi on Saturday, 24 August.

Police responded to reports of a group of people who were disturbing activities at a construction site where a bridge is under construction in uMsunduzi. On arrival at the scene, police arrested the five suspects and they were duly charged for intimidation as well as the disturbance of a construction site.

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The Minister emphasised “from my very first day in office, I have been clear that the South African government would not be negotiating with criminals such as the construction mafia but would rather work with all role-players to address this scourge in our communities to safeguard our infrastructure projects.”

He added, “I therefore welcome the joint effort by the private and public sectors in Cape Town and look forward to similar actions being replicated nationwide.”

The City of Cape Town, Atterbury Properties, Old Mutual and other players made a joint statement of intent to join forces in the fight against criminals seeking to profit from developmental projects.

The Minister further added that “to eradicate the rise of lawlessness at construction sites across the country, it will require that we all work together, and make use of new and innovatory approaches to fight crime.”

The Minister intends to meet with both the Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis and eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Cyril Xaba. He intends to discuss how national and local government could work together in addressing the issue of construction mafias; a topic also discussed with the City of Tshwane Mayo, Cilliers Brink. The Minister and Mayor Brink visited the Telkom Towers complex in Pretoria, where the Minister announced he would commission an inquiry into the purchase of the property.

The Minister called on the construction sector to play “a bigger and more important role in growing our country’s economy.” He stated this could only be possible “if we ensure our [construction] sites are safe and public and private sector investments are secure from lawlessness and extortion,” he said in his statement on Monday.

Minister MacPherson hopes that working together, his department and the various metropolitan cities shall be able “to turn the tide against the construction mafia in South Africa,” ensuring they no longer operate with impunity. The DPWI will work alongside the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to identify criminal elements and ensure they are investigated and brought to justice.

“It is imperative that to grow the economy and to create jobs, we turn South Africa into a construction site, which can only take place if we break the back of the construction mafia.”

The construction mafia is estimated to cost the economy R17 billion per annum. Special Investigating Unit (SIU) spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago in December last year said, “Research documents published during the last two years have revealed the impact of construction sector mafia on construction projects and investment in the sector. In the period leading up to 2022, up to R63 billion worth of projects were reported, and delayed or cancelled as a result of the extortion tactics and disruptions posed by construction mafia.”

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A statement yesterday (Thursday 11 July) in the wake of so-called “revelations” of at least R300 million lost to cyber theft at the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) over a 10 year period has it an SSA (State Security Agency) investigation is “ongoing”. This comes over two months after then DPWI minister Sihle Zikalala said a multi-disciplinary team, including the SSA, was busy with “a full forensic investigation” on the illegal “siphoning off” of departmental funds.

Patricia de Lille, now Tourism Minister and former incumbent of the public works and infrastructure portfolio, was quick to respond to her successor Dean MacPherson’s announcement of the apparent massive cybercrime.  She will meet him and “request a copy of the report [relating to the alleged theft] for the period relevant to my time at DWI”. She notes during her DPWI tenancy R253 million was recovered relating to lease overcharging adding where corruption was found “I acted swiftly,” reporting matters to the Auditor General (AG) and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

According to Ntshaveni the DPWI investigation is “still ongoing” with teams “urged to work with speed” to finish “without compromising the thoroughness of the investigation”.

On government and cyber security she noted “the SSA continues to provide support and advice to government departments on cyber security”. The agency is finalising a consolidated assessment on government’s cyber security strengths, and initiatives are underway to address any weaknesses found in the system. The report, once completed, will be submitted to the National Security Council (NSC) for further processing and direction, her statement reads in part.

MacPherson, the GNU (Government of National Unity) DPWI minister, said it was important to let South Africans know what happened and “what we are doing about it”. He is reported as saying “I cannot discount the possibility of collusion between officials and criminals in this prolonged period of theft. It is clear that we need better financial controls which I have said to the department are a matter of urgency”.

To date the DPWI investigation has seen four officials, three in senior management positions, suspended and 30 laptops confiscated.

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