Chairperson, to the hon Minister, this department plays a vital role in different sectors in developing this country, in that it maintains the immovable assets of government, housing the various operations of the departments of government, who in turn rely upon it to provide the necessary safe, work infrastructure in which they can fulfil their assigned mandates. Like any other government department, it should be beyond reproach in all of its duties. Sadly that is not the case.
This department recently received a qualified audit report from the Auditor- General. It has also failed to lay its strategic plan before the Public Works Portfolio Committee in this House in time, which shows a total disrespect for the House, or at the very least negligence and carelessness of the highest order.
In the President's state of the nation address, he stated that all vacant posts had to be filled, but this department has failed to adequately budget for 707 vacant posts. This is totally unacceptable. A department cannot run competently when it has inadequate resources. This must be addressed immediately, and we would like the Minister to comment on how she plans to address the matter.
It also boasts of excessive salary payments, where senior managers and chief executive officers, CEOs, are earning more than the president of a country. This needs to be addressed by the Minister.
It has illegally occupied certain properties in the city of Johannesburg, which is not proper for any government department, that should at all times conduct its business in a manner that is beyond reproach.
The department has huge backlogs in its supply of basic services to many government buildings. The department failed to provide toilets and water for hawkers at our Mozambican border gate.
The eradication of mud schools in rural areas must also be prioritised. We are now in winter and students in the rural areas have to sit in very cold, wet classrooms, which is not at all conducive to learning. At the last count, we had approximately 2 000 mud schools countrywide. How many more winters must our students endure in such schools?
Regarding potholes in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Kwazulu-Natal, why do we have to wait for the situation to get worse and cost us billions of rand to fix instead of our being proactive and maintaining our roads before they reach such a bad state of disrepair?
The Independent Development Trust has been delivering workmanship of the most inferior quality in rural areas. The causes of this poor workmanship must be investigated, with regard to the issuing of tenders, and they must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The Mpumalanga provincial department of public works has failed to register and manage its immovable assets. This is either through total incompetence or just negligence - both which have no place in this or any other government department.
The Minister should take responsibility for the messy affair of the police headquarters lease. Her persistence in going ahead with the lease, despite her own department's legal advice, speaks of poor judgment. Making sound judgment calls is at the very core of the responsibilities of a Minister.
The Government Immovable Asset Management Act requires forceful implementation by the department.
In summary, Madam Minister, this department has a great deal of work before it, and you have the difficult task of steering it back to being a fully operational entity. The IFP wishes you all the best with this portfolio. The IFP supports the Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]