Dean Macpherson's bold measures to combat corruption in public works

The Minister of Public Works, Dean Macpherson, has taken a hard-line stance on corruption as he cracks the whip on fraudulent conduct amid reports that the department is losing millions to alleged ghost employees.

As result, on Wednesday, the minister confirmed that his department has ordered lifestyle audits on 400 high-risk officials in key departments as part of the clean-up campaign within the department.

"Over the past year, we have taken action to confront corruption and maladministration within the Department. We have launched lifestyle audits on over 400 high-risk officials, and we are finalising investigations into ghost employees who were irregularly paid by the Department. Where wrongdoing is confirmed, action will be taken swiftly," he said.

Macpherson, who briefed the media on Wednesday on his first year as minister, has indicated that his ministry and department are undergoing a clean-up campaign, which has already conducted and completed lifestyle audits on 48 senior managers.

The minister indicated that the verification process undertaken also includes conducting a physical verification of employees to ensure that every person on the payroll exists.

"Our anti-corruption unit is currently auditing the Persal system across the department and EPWP to detect any fictitious employees drawing salaries without working," he added.

Macpherson said these audits were being conducted independently, in partnership with the Special Investigating Unit, and included asset verification.

His clean-up campaign has not left non-performing contractors who defraud the department out, with the minister revealing that his office will lead the department’s internal reform agenda to ensure governance lapses are identified early, while procurement is monitored rigorously, and fraud is reported and acted on.

"Through the Construction Industry Development Board, 40 underperforming contractors now face delisting, with 15 already deregistered in June. In the past, since 2002, only one was delisted. In this regard, I will be introducing a revised Council for the Built Environment Bill to strengthen governance, clarify regulatory powers, and ensure greater accountability across the built environment sector.

"We have also made clear that our public entities must be centres of excellence. The Independent Development Trust, long plagued by instability, now has a new board appointed, which will take up its full mandate in the coming days. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the IDT. We have also taken steps to address the threat of construction site disruptions," he stated.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za