I would like to acknowledge the presence of hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister in absentia, hon members, chairpersons of the boards of Public Works entities, distinguished guests and fellow South Africans. I would also like to acknowledge the presence of the Eastern Cape MEC of Public Works, MEC Madikizela.
One of the greatest philosophers of history Karl Marx once said: "If we have chosen the position in life in which we can most of all work for mankind, no burdens can bow us down, because they are sacrifices for the benefit of all; then we shall experience no petty, limited, selfish joy, but our happiness will belong to millions, our deeds will live on quietly but perpetually at work, and over our ashes will be shed the hot tears of noble people".
This quote is befitting in particular for the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, which has a
responsibility to conduct oversight over a department that is a catalyst for socioeconomic development and a significant driver in the creation of inclusive economy and job creation. If we work together as a collective, we shall experience no petty, limited, selfish joy, but our happiness will belong to millions of South Africans. [Applause.]
Hon members, in his June 2019 state of the nation address, His Excellency President Ramaphosa indicated that this administration will focus on seven key priority areas. the World
The reconfigured Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, in all its forms, is therefore a catalyst for socioeconomic development, which will contribute towards these overarching tasks. Well-planned and managed infrastructure enables established businesses to expand their production levels, while encouraging small businesses to enter the market. It also promotes trade, supports economic concentration and contributes to job creation. The department can only achieve its mandate if
those elected to conduct oversight over it, work together as a collective.
The ANC led government is committed to expedite infrastructure development and as such, His Excellency President Ramaphosa in February 2019 state of the nation address indicated that R100 billion has been set aside to seed the Infrastructure Fund.
The Development Bank of Southern Africa and the newly configured Department of Public Works and Infrastructure playing a co- ordinating role will manage this fund. This shows our government's commitment in investing in infrastructure. Although this is not enough to address the under-serviced areas and addresses the imbalances of the past in our country, it will definitely eliminate some of the infrastructure backlogs.
Fraud and corruption continue to erode our social fabric and undermine our collective efforts to build a prosperous South Africa. The ANC-led government is committed to restore its integrity, credibility and confront fraud and corruption as well as state capture in all forms. It is upon this background that
the department aims at good governance improvement and risk mitigation through its turnaround strategy, which is built on two pillars, the zero tolerance for corruption and improving the way it does its business
Working closely with the Special Investigations Unit, SIU, the Governance, Risk and Compliance, GRC, unit in the department, was able to announce significant successes in 2018 in the fight against corruption and collusion between corrupt officials and property owners, thus recovering monies incorrectly paid to landlords.
In our portfolio committee, we were informed that the Anti- Corruption Unit, ACU, within the department conducted 252 investigations in 2018 on a series of allegations of fraud and corruption. Of these, 223 cases have since been completed; 17 are at various stages of investigation and 12 were referred to other law enforcement agencies. We were very pleased on this as a committee.
It is worth noting that the fight against fraud and corruption must be a responsibility for all of us. We must fight fraud and corruption in the public and the private sector, across all racial, political and gender lines because it hinders development. We need to fight fraud and corruption here in Western Cape in the DA-led province. [Interjections.]