THE Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) has lashed out at the Department of Pubic Works for the slow pace of investigations and consequence management on the Beitbridge border fence debacle.
Earlier this week, Scopa received a briefing from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille on the implementation of its recommendations following the public watchdog’s visit to the Beitbridge border fence earlier this year.
The committee said it will now request a report from the law enforcement agencies on progress regarding this matter.
The committee said will also request a report from National Treasury on the request sent to it by the Department to blacklist and monitor the principal agent and contractor from doing business with the government.
De Lille has blamed the lack of progress in sanctioning offenders on the involvement of many different agencies.
These include the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), National Treasury and State Security Agency. She said the matters were subject to legal procedures.
The SIU, however, launched an application to freeze the service providers’ bank accounts in September last year. Scopa chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said the committee will request the State Security Agency (SSA) to provide a report on the vetting of the department’s supply chain management officials.
“Scopa has been informed that the department has vetted a total of 230 supply chain management officials and will seek assistance from SSA to fast-track the process of the vetting of the remaining officials,” said Hlengwa.
“The committee has also been informed by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure that the department has taken a decision not to undertake any repairs on the fence in its current form as that will constitute fruitless and wasteful expenditure. The department is looking at a long-term solution for all the border fences.”
