By Johnathan Paoli
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has denied allegations of corruption by the Economic Freedom Fighters regarding ministerial interference at the Independent Development Trust (IDT), according to spokesperson James de Villiers.
The minister claimed the allegations were an attempt to undermine the appointment of an independent firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, to investigate the circumstances surrounding an R800-million oxygen plant tender.
“The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure will not be distracted by the noise surrounding the oxygen plant tendering process, but will take all necessary actions to uncover the truth and hold officials accountable where required,” Macpherson said.
He claimed the state-owned entity responsible for overseeing social infrastructure projects nationwide was financially dysfunctional, and that the trust’s repeated non-payment of operators required intervention in line with his duty as minister.
Macpherson maintained that the claim of intervention failed to take into account that Lonerock Construction, appointed to rehabilitate sinkholes at the Waterkloof Air Force Base as part of a project managed on behalf of the department, had not been paid since July last year, and was owed almost R19 million.
He said that he had emailed the top senior officials, including the CFO, however, they failed to reply, leaving him no choice but to intervene more directly.
This follows allegations by the EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini accusing Macpherson of overstepping his authority by intervening in a tender process with Lonerock Construction.
“The minister has no role in the financial and operational matters of IDT. To demonstrate that his interest in running that department, is only for corrupt activities,” he said.
Dlamini on Wednesday shared an email from Macpherson to a junior staff member at the trust, requesting feedback in relation to payments to Lonerock.
The party issued a strong statement, accusing Macpherson of undermining the trust’s governance to prioritise the interests of white-owned businesses.
The red berets contended that the delay in processing the funds was due to the tender amount exceeding 20% of the project scope, which required approvals from the National Treasury in addition to the department.
Instead of obtaining the approval and following protocol, Macpherson is alleged to have bypassed the IDT’s executive leadership, raising concerns about governance violations and favouritism.
The EFF acknowledged broader issues within the trust, including irregularities surrounding the oxygen tender.
It criticised the Democratic Alliance, which Macpherson is a member of, for replicating practices akin to state capture, accusing the party of advancing white capital interests, with reports of a campaign to discredit the trust’s CEO further fuelling claims of cronyism.
The EFF, led by Dlamini, laid charges of corruption against the minister at the Pretoria Central Police Station on Wednesday, describing his actions as representing gross levels of misconduct.
The DA has defended Macpherson, labelling the allegations as part of a smear campaign orchestrated by political consultant JJ Thabane.
DA spokesperson Willie Aucamp claimed that the IDT, plagued by mismanagement and an inability to provide audited financials since August 2024, awarded the tender irregularly, and that Macpherson’s actions to expose and halt the deal reflected the DA’s commitment to a corruption-free administration.
Aucamp criticised the timing of the allegations, likening them to tactics used during state capture era, including coordinated disinformation campaigns by bots and biased media.
He dismissed the EFF’s involvement as opportunistic and aimed at regaining relevance.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Select Committee on Public Infrastructure, Rikus Badenhorst, has welcomed the action taken by the minister, describing it as a proactive step as it would clarify concerns around the tender process and ensure the safeguarding of public funds.
He urged the IDT to prioritise engagements with the Auditor-General and to submit its annual report without further delay as transparency and accountability were non-negotiable for institutions entrusted in delivering essential public services.
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