De Lille vows action against ‘crooks’ in construction sector
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille has vowed to tighten controls in the construction sector as government moves ahead with its infrastructure plans.
The infrastructure plans, approved by Cabinet in May 2020, forms part of the country’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.
De Lille and head of the Special Investigating Unit, Andy Mothibi, launched the newly established Infrastructure Built Anti-Corruption Forum (IBACF) in Cape Town on Monday.
The forum aims to monitor infrastructure projects more effectively and put systems in place to detect and prevent corruption.
De Lille issued a stern warning to the construction sector.
“Corruption within the built environment has run rampant for too long. The state has structures in place but government cannot do this work alone and that is why we have brought private sector, public entities and civil society together in this forum so that we can work together on more effective ways to detect, prevent and act against corruption,” said De Lille.
De Lille added corruption takes away from government’s ability to deliver basic services to South Africans.
“We cannot allow the crooks to continue to steal billions meant for infrastructure. People, no matter who they are, cannot be allowed to continue to steal and stifle progress at the expense of the most vulnerable in our country.
“Anyone involved in corrupt activities and found guilty of such must face consequences, they must face the full might of the law. We must work together to put an end to this scourge because corruption steals from the poor.”
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Mothibi said reports point to several sectors vulnerable to irregularities including infrastructure, mining and local government.
According to Mothibi, at least 80% of irregularities are found in procurement process.
Mothibi added the construction sector remains vulnerable to price fixing, awarding of tenders to non-deserving contractors and issuing of illegal environmental permits for large developers to develop in sensitive environmental areas.
“The Infrastructure Build Anti-Corruption Forum will galvanise all stakeholders into action and ensure that Infrastructure Built Projects are monitored more effectively and put measures and systems in place to fight against fraud and corruption,” Mothibi said.
Listen to Patricia de Lille below:
