programmes
16 March 2006
The National Department of Public Works and the Parliamentary Portfolio
Committee for Public Works have agreed to review, where feasible the programmes
of the Department including the procurement processes with a view to further
increase their contribution to the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of
South Africa (AsgiSA).
This emerged after a two day strategic engagement where the Department
presented its 2006/07 â 2009/10 strategic plans to the Portfolio Committee for
inputting ahead of its Budget Vote on 29 March 2006. Both the Minister of
Public Works, Ms Stella Sigcau and the Chairperson of the Committee, Mr Fezile
Bengu were in attendance.
AsgiSA details governmentâs interventions to grow the economy by 6% and
reduce poverty and unemployment by half in 2014. The Department of Public Works
through its programmes is crucial to government contribution. The Department
manages governmentâs immovable asset portfolio made up of more than 110 000
properties including land and buildings central to service delivery, land
reform initiatives and economic empowerment. In addition, the Department is
working through the construction and property industries, manages a capital
works expenditure programme worth more than R5 billion per year to lease
private space as well as build and maintain public infrastructure on behalf of
government and its departments. Its client list includes among others the South
African Police Service (SAPS), Justice, Correctional Services, Defence, and
Home Affairs.
Since 2004 the Department has been co-ordinating the Expanded Public Works
Programme to develop skills, create job opportunities and improve service
delivery. In the first year of its existence, the EPWP expended more than R3
billion to create in excess of 224 000 job opportunities and 1 971 contractor
learnerships.
As part of the deliberations, constraints which might impede the goals of
AsgiSA were identified and these included inconsistencies in the procurement
environment, fronting, fragmented empowerment programmes, scarce critical
skills, and lack of transformation in the relevant industries.
The two parties agreed on quarterly progress reports detailing the
Departmentâs efforts to incorporate recommendations aimed at eliminating the
constraints and unlocking the potential of the departmental programmes to
contribute to the shared growth.
Speaking at the end of the session, the Minister expressed concern about the
choking effects of fronting but added that heads will soon roll in the
construction industry following the verification process report of 2005 that
identified companies involved in fronting. Currently the report was with the
law enforcement agents for forensic audits and prosecution.
Enquiries:
Lucky Mochalibane
Tel: (012) 337 2057
Cell: 082 8999 775
Issued by: Department of Public Works
16 March 2006
Source: Department of Public Works (http://www.publicworks.gov.za)
