Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
Private Bag X9155
Cape Town
8000
Dear Minister Zikalala
Alleged collapse of systems at Department of Public Works and Infrastructure
1. I received the attached letter anonymously regarding “…recent developments by some of your senior Management decision to collapse the core function of the National Department of Public works by moving over hundred funded projects to Implementing Agencies such as IDT, COEGA and DBSA.” With the additional allegation that this was per your mandate “…in order to accelerate expenditure which has an impact on your 2024 elections as a political party.”
2. Worse still is that this decision is apparently being made whilst “these implementing agencies have failed before since some projects are still running with over budget, time overruns and with poor quality and management since these implementing Agencies appears to lack capacity.”
3. From the information provided in the letter it is clear that there are signs that the powers of the political head of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure are being overstepped and those of the accounting officers are being side-lined in the name of electioneering.
4. I reiterate the assertion in the letter that “The most concerning thing is that now public works is attached to ANC yet it is supposed to nonpolitically affiliated and serve the People of South Africa regardless of race, political affiliation or religion etc.”
5. We would like to establish the veracity of these claims and like to have your assurance that what the letter alleges is in fact not happening as this would be tantamount to corruption.
Yours sincerely
Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP
President of the United Democratic Movement
Copied to: Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa