Poor performance of infrastructure department comes under the spotlight

By Alicia Mmashakana

The Public Works and Infrastructure Department and some of its entities have been hauled over the coals for their poor annual performance.

Parliament’s public infrastructure committee heard this week that the department had only achieved 51% of its overall performance targets, which was a significant drop from the previous year’s 61%.

Committee members raised several questions and concerns during the engagement.

Chairperson Rikus Badenhorst said the department detailed challenges including delays in project funding from client departments, issues with the Land Affairs Board and limitations on filling empty posts.

The Property Management Trading Entity report noted that the government had released over 1099 hectares of land to support human settlements, land reform and other activities; spent R2.9 billion on maintaining the state’s immovable asset portfolio; and completed 77% of targeted infrastructure projects.

While the Construction Industry Development Board declared an improved performance by meeting 94% of its