Department
Public Works and Infrastructure
Minister
Patricia de Lille
Key Goals
1. Repair damaged state infrastructure: Achieved
2. Rebuild areas in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape affected by flooding: Partially achieved
3. Establish and enforce an anti-corruption forum in the built environment: Achieved
Analysis
Minister Patricia de Lille’s year was made difficult by the devastating KwaZulu-Natal floods that not only claimed more than 450 lives and people’s homes, but severely damaged the provinces’ infrastructure.
A major rebuilding effort was required to restore more than 60 damaged state properties, including an air force base in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as building and repairing bridges and giving out more than 250 land parcels to displaced families.
Although the department was only able to distribute four land parcels, it managed to repair all state properties, as well as commenced work on the bridges.
But it was tensions in the built environment caused by mismanagement in the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (Sacap) that also made the headlines, with the minister saying these had been resolved.
Minister Says
Since the conclusion of the [Sacap] matter we have not had similar claims. Stability has since been restored to the council and it has been able to discharge its mandate.
Regarding the floods, we will continue to provide support in [KwaZulu-Natal] in any way we can in terms of our mandate and work with all spheres of government to ensure that we restore KZN and help the many households in need.