The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has received its first clean audit from the South African Auditor-General. The MEC for KwaZulu-Natal, Martin Meyer, linked this achievement to the presence of political will and a strategic return to basics, focusing on accountability and correcting internal errors.
An internal review confirmed that a clean audit had never been recorded before, underscoring the significance of this milestone. When Meyer took office, he inherited a troubled department with a tax bill of nearly R1.9 billion for facilities across 54 KZN municipalities.
The department managed to eliminate an unjustified expenditure of R700 million and liquidate an overspend on goods and services of R800 million, bringing both figures to zero. Meyer expressed joy and thanked the department's staff for months of hard work.
He stated that the implemented policies and measures led to success because they 'plugged the holes that plagued this department.' Meyer recalled that two years ago, skeptics claimed a clean audit for the department was impossible, but they accepted this challenge and proved that with the right political will and diligent employee performance, such a department could achieve a clean audit.
Historically, corruption, delayed contractor payments, and systemic inefficient project management hindered a clean audit. These issues were resolved by implementing outcome management and strengthening financial oversight, which reduced the number of frozen projects from 89 to four. Furthermore, tender processes were reformed through audiovisual recording, and senior managers involved in past irregularities were removed.
Meyer emphasized that returning to basic principles yields results. He noted that having support from people and the absence of political interference in departments allows all elements to form a picture of a clean audit.
Acknowledging the need for further improvement regarding frozen projects, asset maintenance, and settlement of outstanding municipal payments, Meyer concluded that a clean audit is meaningless without tangible service delivery. The Provincial Infrastructure Council, chaired by Premier Thamsanga Ntuli and Meyer, will coordinate infrastructure development across the province.
The head of the KZN DPWI, Dr. Vish Govender, identified corruption, mismanagement, and supply chain management as the main obstacles. To address these issues, the department implemented audiovisual recording of tender processes to ensure impartiality, excluding executive interference and guaranteeing contracts are awarded to the highest-scoring bidders. Govender added that his own participation as an accountant interfering in the process was excluded, emphasizing the complete impartiality of the recording.
UKZN public administration specialist, Professor Purshottham Sivanarain Reddy, believes the department is on an upward trajectory that must be sustained after the Provincial Unity Government. He noted that while a clean audit does not guarantee efficient service delivery, the department is moving in the right direction. Reddy stressed the need to attract human capital with necessary critical skills and, more importantly, retain specialists to advance the department.
Chairperson of the South African King's Committee on Corporate Governance, Ansi Ramallo, asserts that departments and state institutions must fulfill their mandates and operate within the law. She acknowledged the complexity of the situation in the public sector but noted that governance involves navigating this environment with the ultimate goal of ensuring organizational success.