Tag Archives: Dean Macpherson

Macpherson orders investigation into allegations of EPWP abuse in North West

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Picture: EPWP workers on duty/Generic

By AGISANANG SCUFF

4 November 2025- The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, has directed officials to launch an urgent investigation into reports that participants in the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in the Bojanala District Municipality were allegedly forced to perform domestic chores for a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) and pressured to pay political party membership fees for her party.

Macpherson said the allegations first published in the Sunday Times, are deeply disturbing and contrary to the very purpose of the EPWP, which was intended to be a programme intended to create dignified, skills-based work opportunities for unemployed South Africans.

“If these claims are true, they represent a serious abuse of power and a betrayal of public trust. The EPWP was created to empower communities, not to serve anyone’s personal or political interests, which is why I have requested departmental officials to work with their provincial counterparts in the North West, as well as the Bojanala District Municipality, to verify the allegations and determine whether national EPWP funds were misused and if the recruitment policy was abused.

“Any individual found to have benefited improperly would face swift and appropriate action, including possible criminal referral. There will be zero tolerance for any misuse of this programme. Public money must never be used to advance private gain, and I look forward to soon communicating with the public on the outcome of the investigation,” he said.

Macpherson further said it is because of allegations such as those levelled in Bojanala District Municipality that he launched a nationwide EPWP listening tour over the past year to listen to the concerns of the community as he works to reform the programme. He added that he is committed to removing corruption and abuse from EPWP to ensure that it meaningfully empowers participants through skills transfers to ensure that they find permanent employment.

“We are determined to make the EPWP programme transparent, accountable, and focused squarely on improving people’s lives because we are committed to ensuring that every rand allocated to the EPWP benefits those it was meant for, creating work, building skills, and restoring dignity,” said Macpherson.

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Government commits to infrastructure-led growth ahead of symposium

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Sunday, May 25, 2025

As South Africa gears up for the fourth annual Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) in Cape Town this week, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dean Macpherson, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to transforming the country into a hive of construction activity to drive economic recovery, job creation and scale up service delivery.

The Minister was speaking at media briefing on Sunday, ahead of the SIDSSA, which will be held on Monday and Tuesday.

The symposium follows closely on the heels of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Budget Speech, in which he announced that government will invest approximately R1 trillion in infrastructure over the medium term.

“This week, government, business, development financiers and technical experts will come together with a singular focus: how do we use infrastructure to drive South Africa’s economic recovery, attract investment and most importantly, create jobs? SIDSSA is not just a conversation. It is a platform for execution,” Macpherson said.

The Minister announced that during the symposium, the second edition of the Construction Book, compiled by Infrastructure South Africa, will be launched.

“This is a live inventory of construction ready projects that are already funded and scheduled to go to the market over the next 12 months. It showcases the real work being done to build roads, expand water supply systems, unlock energy capacity and rehabilitate public infrastructure. 

“This year’s construction book includes over 200 funded projects part of the annual procurement plans of State-Owned Enterprises, municipalities and provinces across the country. The goal is clear, we must accelerate delivery, stimulate growth and turn South Africa into a construction site,” the Minister said.

He said the next wave of priority projects will also be announced.

“These include eight nationally significant infrastructure projects that were prioritised at SIDSSA last year. I will also be providing an update on these projects while [President Cyril Ramaphosa] will outline the broader significance of these projects in his keynote address,” he said.

Macpherson emphasised that it is evident that “we are making real progress in the infrastructure space across the length and breadth of South Africa”.

“These projects are no longer aspirational. They are funded, contracted and moving through feasibility and procurement stages with urgency and transparency. 

“One of the biggest reforms we’ve made has been to prioritise project preparation funding. Through Infrastructure South Africa, we are ensuring that public sector projects no longer fail at the first hurdle due to weak planning, poor structuring or lack of compliance. Over R600 million has now been committed to prepare strategic infrastructure projects from basic services to catalytic energy and water investments,” he revealed.

For the public good

Macpherson highlighted that the symposium will also provide an opportunity for reflection on “how we use the assets of the state for public good”.

“Over the past year, we have begun repurposing public buildings for public good. We are turbo charging private investment into public properties which will see investment supporting infrastructure. 

“For the first time, we are releasing 31 properties nationwide for investment which will allow the public and private sectors to work together on how best they can be utilised. This is the first phase of this programme which we estimate will attract an additional R10 billion in these properties through the private sector and create – between construction and services related jobs – 165 000 opportunities,” he said.

Additionally, vacant properties are being handed over to local and provincial authorities to serve as shelters, youth centres and service delivery points.

“The era of state buildings standing idle while communities go without them must come to an end. Public properties must serve the public and the public purpose,” the Minister said.

He assured that the symposium is “not about making new promises”.

“It’s about reporting back, building momentum and demonstrating that this government is serious about delivery and serious about infrastructure. This week is about showing South Africa what is being built and what is coming up to be built.

“We are ready, the projects are ready and it’s now time for us to deliver,” Macpherson concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson under scrutiny for ‘no show’   

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Picture: Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson

By REGINALD KANYANE

9 April 2025- The Select Committee on Security and Justice today resolved not to entertain an engagement with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) officials for a briefing on the infrastructure and maintenance plans after the Minister, Deputy Minister and Director-General (DG), failed to attend the meeting. This is despite the Minister, Dean Macpherson, undertaking to delegate the DG to lead the delegation.

The acting Chairperson of the Committee, Pitso Noe said they were informed only last night that the DG also could not make it to the meeting. Noe said no explanation was offered and instead, the Deputy Director-General led the delegation, much to the dissatisfaction of the committee.

“The committee also raised concerns that the DPWI only submitted its presentation documents for the briefing on 7 April, thereby missing the deadline for submission, which was 4 April.

“The committee could not proceed with its business, due to the absence of the Ministry. We strongly felt that Parliament is being undermined by the executive as it has become practice that Ministers will fail to appear before parliamentary committees as required by the Constitution and rules,” he said.

Noe further said the committee unanimously agreed that the matter will be escalated to the Chairperson of National Council of Provinces Chairperson (NCOP), to be reported to the Deputy President, as the leader of Government Business. He added that the committee wants to express its disappointment and dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Ministry has handled the meeting.

“They resolved to defer the meeting to a date within 21 days that will be suitable for the Minister to appear and expect the Ministry to honour and account to Parliament about the maintenance of government infrastructure and plans to improve service delivery to the JCPS,” concluded Noe.

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