Beitbridge border fence corruption ‘worse than feared’ at R17m
The Beitbridge border fence, erected between South Africa and Zimbabwe ahead of the Covid-19 pandemic, was overpriced by a whopping R17 million.
This is R3 million more than the original estimate of R14 million.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure briefed Parliament on allegations of corruption linked to the border fence on Tuesday morning.
The department’s deputy-general Imtiaz Fazel said the fence, which cost the taxpayer R40 million, was only supposed to have cost R26 million.
“The assessment found that the overall cost should’ve amounted to R26 million but was overpriced by R14.4 million.
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“But a further assessment using market-related prices for materials actually used on site and revised fees for engineering services provides for a total project cost of R23 388 023.97. That means that the project, and DPWI’s failure to review the application properly, actually exceeded its total costs by over R17 million – almost R3 million more than first feared.”
Public Works Minister Patricia de Lille has ordered an investigation into the costs.
“The investigation revealed a series of procurement and other irregularities throughout the infrastructure delivery process and possible acts of fraud with respect to payments made in advance to contractors and principal agents," added Fazel.
The report has since been handed over to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
A total of 14 senior officials from the department are facing possible criminal charges for the fiasco.
