Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance is encouraged to see the collaborative effort between all nine Provinces and Minister Macpherson through the unveiling of the Construction Action Plan, which will bring modernization and transparency to the management of large public works projects across the country.
The Construction Action Plan, announced by Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson this week, reflects a shift toward accountability, transparency, and performance – values the DA has long championed for in government.
The plan’s focus on blacklisting failed contractors, ring-fencing project budgets, and ensuring funds are ring-fenced aligns with the DA’s calls to end chronic project delays, cost overruns, and incomplete infrastructure.
These steps will turbo-charge the construction industry, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth by ensuring that projects are properly funded and delivered on time.
The plan incorporates procurement war rooms and restriction committees, digital project tracking, and collaboration with the Auditor-General for real-time oversight, which are all long-standing DA proposals to improve transparency and stop corruption before it starts. Digital tracking of projects means that those who have used large scale public construction projects as looting opportunities will now have nowhere to hide.
By professionalizing project and construction managers within the state, and improving project-to-manager ratios, government can finally begin rebuilding technical capacity and ensuring that the public gets infrastructure built to standard, on budget, and on schedule.
The Minister’s statement that “it should be an honour to do work for the state” captures the DA’s belief that ethical, competitive, and skilled participation in public projects is the key to restoring confidence and delivery.
We further welcome the collaboration with all nine provincial MECs and Heads of Department who have contributed extensively to the plan. This is what true partnership looks like and should be supported.
The Democratic Alliance will continue advancing practical, data-driven solutions to rebuild South Africa’s construction sector as a powerful engine of employment, investment, and growth for the benefit of all South Africans.
Regards
Edwin Macrae Bath MP
DA Deputy Spokesperson on Public Works and Infrastructure