Tag Archives: The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

‘Concerns regarding quality of construction’

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Picture: A building collapsed

By OBAKENG MAJE

17 December 2025- The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson said the investigation found, among others, that there were concerns regarding the quality of construction, that the concrete used was friable and that no building plans were submitted to authorities. 

Macpherson said as investigations continue, his department and stakeholders will continue to support affected families and communities, ensure full accountability, and work to prevent similar tragedies. 

He further said they gathered today under deeply painful circumstances. Macpherson added that the collapse of a multi-storey building in Redcliffe, North of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday afternoon has caused immense heartbreak and tragedy, particularly at this time of year.

“As I said during my site visit on Saturday, on behalf of the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure, I wish to once again express my deepest condolences to the families who have lost loved ones in the Redcliffe collapse.

“We will continue to work closely with all spheres of government and relevant stakeholders to support those who have been injured and all those affected by this tragedy,” he said.

Macpherson said he wants to pay tribute to their brave rescuers, emergency personnel and police officers who have worked bravely and understand dangerous conditions to free those who were trapped and return those who were deceased back to their families. He said he wanted to commend the Province of KwaZulu-Natal and eThekwini Municipality for the disaster management coordination shown in this tragedy.

“We also want to express our gratitude to the Western Cape Provincial Government for allocating resources to support the recovery effort.

“We must also acknowledge the trauma experienced by survivors, workers, congregants, and community members. We thank our teams for the professionalism, dedication, and compassion they have shown since last Friday,” said Macpherson.

He said at the time of the latest formal operational update provided to the government, five fatalities had been confirmed, with a number of additional people injured. Macpherson said they do not believe there are any further people trapped in the rubble of the collapse.

“We again extend our deepest condolences to the families affected, and we wish all those injured a speedy and full recovery.

“Preliminary findings at this stage, it is important to emphasise that the findings I am about to share are preliminary in nature and are based on an initial expert assessment conducted by the Council for the Built Environment, working alongside relevant provincial and municipal authorities,” he said.

Macpherson said the Council’s CEO, Dr Msizi Myeza, will later further unpack these preliminary findings and the legislative framework that the CBE operates under in moments such as this. He said based on the information available at this point, the structure involved was a reinforced concrete multi-storey building under construction, comprising concrete columns, flat slabs and masonry walls.

“The collapse occurred while concrete was being poured, with reports indicating that work was underway on the upper levels of the building at the time of the incident.

“Preliminary evidence, including available video footage, points to a sudden structural failure, most likely triggered by a formwork or shuttering failure during the pumping of wet concrete,” said Macpherson.

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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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‘Allegations of jobs-for-pals, intimidation or even sexual exploitation within EPWP are unacceptable’

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Picture: Some of EPWP employees at work/Generic

By REGINALD KANYANE 

25 March 2025- The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson said the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employees’ contribution will play an important role as they work to reform the programme for future success. Macpherson, who visited Upington said, in the months ahead, they will be visiting many more communities in various provinces across the country to hear about their experiences and hold frank conversations on how they can rethink and reform the EPWP programme.

He further said he understands that by working with communities, they will be able to address the biggest challenges facing society. Macpherson added that they are on a journey to reform EPWP to change the narrative around it. 

“We will restore trust in its ability to make a meaningful difference and to ensure that every participant is treated with the dignity they deserve. Because, I am determined that where something is broken in the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure, it must be fixed.

“The days of turning a blind eye to failures in the department have come to an end. Shortly after I was appointed the Minister of Public Works & Infrastructure 10 months ago, I emphasised the important role EPWP has to play in poverty alleviation and short-term job creation,” he said.

Macpherson said indeed, in the subsequent EPWP listening tours they have held, it has been incredibly encouraging to hear how the programme has provided opportunities to many who had not had them before.

He said as they have heard today, it is clear that EPWP is an important tool to instil hope, provide work, and bring dignity to millions of South Africans in communities across the country.

“It also plays an important role in addressing service delivery challenges, from road maintenance to grass cutting and, in some places, even library services.

The EPWP programme provides the Government of National Unity with a great opportunity to improve service delivery in communities that need it most.

“However, let me be clear: based on what I’ve heard today from members of this community, it is clear that EPWP has been vulnerable to abuse for, among others, jobs for pals, corruption, and political patronage,” said Macpherson.

He said he simply heard too many allegations in this community to allow the status quo to continue. Macpherson said as so many people today shared courageously, people in this community have often been let down by a programme, which was intended to benefit them.

“It is simply unjust to expect recipients to clean streets, repair roads, or maintain parks while receiving a few benefits at their expense. How will community members ever be able to believe in a programme which was intended to empower them when the abuse and corruption within it are widely known?

“How will people ever want to participate in a programme where their personal dignity has been compromised? Let me be clear: Allegations of jobs-for-pals, intimidation – or even worse – sexual exploitation are unacceptable,” he said. 

Macpherson said he will not stand by and allow this conduct to happen, and where any official is found guilty, he will take the strongest action possible. He said this is why it is imperative that they build a better EPWP programme, where these abuses are eliminated.

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