Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson said he would not be pressured by false reports, political collusion, or those being investigated for wrongdoing and promised to continue working in the department.

Macpherson was delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate on Wednesday in Parliament.

“We have started to conduct a skills audit to ensure we have the expertise to execute our mission.

“We have declared war on the Construction Mafia, which has held infrastructure projects hostage.

“The Durban Declaration, signed between the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, SAPS, and the KZN Government, is a landmark agreement to dismantle these syndicates. Reports of construction stoppages are already decreasing,” he said, adding that this is what the DA delivers in the Government of National Unity.

He said his department is securing public property to prevent land grabs, crime, and theft as a preventative measure to land invasions.

“Eviction orders have been obtained, including for the Castle of Good Hope, ensuring public assets serve society instead of criminal elements because no person can claim public land and buildings as their own. Despite our progress, some in this House (Parliament) want this 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 EFF and some members in the ANC,” he said.

Furthermore, he said that his department will attract R100 billion in private infrastructure investment over the next year, making Infrastructure South Africa the hub of all major projects.

He added that the National Treasury had issued Public-Private Partnership regulation reform, a tangible step toward achieving the government’s R100 billion private sector funding goal.

“We 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 to attract tens of billions of rands in investment and can create tens of thousands of jobs.

“And we will finalise reforms to the Expanded Public Works Programme to ensure it leads to permanent employment and skills development, after politicians and political parties have abused it for too long,” said Macpherson.

In addition, he stated that the department no longer exists to advance personal interests but the interests of South Africans who want our country to work and those who want to get to work.

IOL