KZN Public Works commits to resolving stalled projects

Dr Vish Govender, head of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works, announces a new strategy to address stalled infrastructure projects and ensure compliance among contractors and officials.

The HOD’s sentiments stem from his inaugural Infrastructure Management Committee (IMC) meeting, which he held recently.

The meeting brought together industry leaders, grade 9 and grade 8 contractors, the head of infrastructure, the chief director for infrastructure, programme managers, engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, and civil engineers.

Govender said that since their appointment, the focus for KZN has been and remains integrating diverse disciplines. This approach is essential for resolving the critical backlogs currently challenging the province.

“We look at all our delayed projects. What are the causes of those delayed projects? What are the risks if we do not attend to these delayed projects? And then how do you unlock those delayed projects to realise potential?” Govender asked.

He said the department must ensure consequence management for officials and contractors impeding their critical infrastructure delivery task for KZN’s progress.

“Regarding consequence management, any contractor who does not want to comply with the applicable industry regulations and the project implementation plan that’s agreed upon between Public Works and themselves, obviously, we will work with them first to find out what the reasons are for their non-conformance,” Govender said.

“Those who don’t want to conform, we’ll implement the GCC (general conditions of contract), the clauses of the GCC, the JBCC (joint building contracts committee), or the NEC4 and NEC3 (new engineering contract) that we’re currently working with those contracts. But we’re saying that if you continue to be repetitive in your not wanting to listen, we will take harsh steps, including restricting and blacklisting you. But it’s not the department’s only mechanism.

“What we’re saying is that we want to build KZN better. We want to work with you. So if you can bring us real problems that we have solutions to, and you want to meet us halfway, we want to also meet you halfway. Nowhere do we want to be punitive, but if you take us to that, we don’t mind.”

Regarding officials and consequence management, he said he did not need to say much. Officials know the department is not a playground.

“We’re dealing with serious matters that affect children. One of them, look at this school (Menzi High School in uMlazi), it affects the right to education. And if you’re hindering any right and anything you’re doing wrong, you would be meted out with the harshest discipline that one could bring to the fore,” he said.

“But my officials, I want to place full faith in them. They have turned the corner. We are here to serve the people of KZN with honour and integrity. We in no way foresee any challenges with the officials. The officials are on board. They are 100% behind me and behind the MEC. And I think with that, I mean, we can only grow from strength to strength.”

Govender added that the meeting was successful. They addressed and unblocked all 66 stalled projects in the province, and they are now moving forward. Construction has started on most of them, and those in the planning stage are nearing completion.

“At the moment, we’ll be putting down close to 4.7 billion projects on the ground,” Govender said.