Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi has met with MECs of provincial Public Works departments in Johannesburg to develop joint programmes and strategies to enhance service delivery. The purpose of this meeting was to address issues relating to lack of professional and technical skills, developing of skills, and the usage of Alternative Construction Methods (ACMs) to eradicate mud schools.
The department’s mandate is to be the custodian and manager of all national governments’ fixed assets, for which other legislation does not make another department or institution responsible. Thereby making public works a highly technical department. The Minister has stated that Public Works has to invest in developing in-house technical capacity, which in the long-run will save money which is currently being paid to consultants. This he emphasised would mean recruiting from the private sector, as well as inserting clauses into construction contracts to require contractors to train young engineers and artisans.
The meeting was organised in collaboration with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIBD), a public entity which reports to the Minister of Public Works. CIBD is concurrently reviewing the regulatory framework to ensure it enhances rather than inhibits contractor development. The CIDB will develop and capacitate emerging black construction contractors; whilst strengthening sanctions against non-performing contractors to enhance service delivery.
During the meeting it was agreed that the use of Alternative Construction Methods (ACMs) will be used to tackle the scandal of mud schools. To date, pilot schemes have been completed in both the Eastern Cape and North West provinces. These methods have produced buildings that are in many respects superior to conventional buildings. These buildings are more sustainable, cheaper and quicker to erect and are also important in terms of job creation and skills transfers within local communities. The Independent Development Trust (IDT) is the implementing agent, whilst CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) presented research findings on the quality of the new school buildings.
The implications of the recently announced national infrastructure roll-out plans were explained by Minister Thulas Nxesi: “The effective roll out of Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) 12 and 13 the revitalisation of health facilities and the national school building programme require that Public Works, nationally and provincially, together with client departments, local authorities and implementing bodies, work closely together to ensure effective delivery.
This means maximum coordination, and changing the way we work to reduce delays and cut through the bureaucracy. The roll out of health and education infrastructure will also stimulate further economic activity in communities and job creation.”
The meeting resolved the undertaking of further research, and encouraged joint structures and cooperation moving forward. The MEC of the Eastern Cape, where ACMs have been used to replace mud schools, invited other provinces to visit these schools, whilst the Western and Northern Cape provinces discussed cooperation to address skills deficits. The national department will also coordinate with provincial departments to further enhance reliability of the Immovable Assets Register of state assets.
Public Works strengthening cooperative governance for service delivery
