Post Budget Media Engagement

Rebuilding an Economically Vibrant KwaZulu-Natal Through Public Works

Article and Images by Sibongile Dlangalala

MAYVILLE: On Tuesday, 02 May 2023 the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba hosted a Post-Budget Votes Media Engagement to reaffirm his hard-line stance on the implementation of service delivery commitments mirrored in the 2023-2024 Budget Policy Speech presentations.

The aforesaid engagement held in Mayville - Durban, covered both sister Departments under Vote 14 (Public Works) and 8 (Human Settlements), respectively. This session paved a way for Journalists to capture first-hand information from the MEC as he articulated his position and insight on how the R1.7 Billion Budget allocation for the Department of Public Works will be utilized throughout the current financial year.

Members of the media were afforded an opportunity to pose questions of clarity followed by the MEC’s detailed responses which were packaged for public consumption and benefit.

The MEC reiterated his resolute posture and appetite for service delivery when he ventilated the expected improvements to be commissioned by the KZN Department of Public Works in ensuring delivery of infrastructure to the people of KwaZulu-Natal.

According to the MEC, in no time from now, the Department will take a centre stage when embarking on a series of project sites visits aimed at practically gauging the amount of progress made thus far, since the initiation phase of each project. His oversight role will be targeting schools, clinics, unoccupied and hijacked state buildings which must be reclaimed by government as a sole custodian of such infrastructure as mentioned herein. Extensive support will be galvanized from law enforcement agencies to come on board and robustly confront any wrongdoing pertaining to hooliganism and unauthorised occupation of government buildings.

During the actual Budget Speech presentation held at the KZN Legislature recently, and again during the aforesaid media engagement, it came to light that, the budget allocation for the Department of Public Works is as follows:

• Atleast R839 476 has been allocated towards Property Management, with

• R448 million which has been directed to address Administration related matters.

• Over R450 million of the budget is allocated towards the provision of buildings, structures and equipment.

• Over 25% of the overall budget allocation will be set aside for the erection and acquisition of buildings, structures and engineering works and the maintenance of buildings to client specifications.

In this current financial year, the department will intensify efforts of repositioning itself towards being the preferred implementing agent of choice and a key driver of employment through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

The Department seeks to always fight with relentless ferocity against corruption and any acts of malfeasance.

Staff at the Department of Public Works welcome the newly appointed MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Mr Sipho ‘KK’ Nkosi

The Department of Public Works would like to extend a warm welcome to the newly appointed MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Mr Sipho ‘KK’ Nkosi. The department is further delighted and honoured to learn from Mr Nkosi’s wealth of leadership abilities, having served in various leadership roles.

Furthermore, the staff hopes that MEC Nkosi will share and impart his vast knowledge and competence in financial management, having previously served extensively as the Chair of the legislature Portfolio Committee on Finance. The MEC will be flanked by an enthusiastic, hardworking, and creative team of technocrats.

The team at the department will support his vision to speed up the rollout of socio-economic infrastructure as part of job creation, poverty alleviation, and to ensure improved quality of lives of the people of this province. When addressing staff-related concerns, his excellent administrative abilities in organized labour, which he demonstrated while serving as the Provincial Secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), will also produce beneficial results.

Lastly, the staff at the Department of Public Works would like to assure the MEC that tenacity, diligence, dedication, and work are the routine hallmarks that are valued the most in the department.

A warm welcome once again by the dedicated colleagues in the build environment.

EPWP Integrated Grant Workshop

"Unless You Use It, Knowledge is Power"

Article by Ntokozo Biyela, images by Sibongile Dlangalala

ETHEKWINI REGION: On April 18, 2023, the Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Public Works hosted an Integrated Grant Workshop under the banner of the provincial Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

The workshop was held at the iLembe Conference Centre, Department of Public Works, Ethekwini Region.

In the main, the workshop reflected on the tenets of the Division of Revenues Act (DORA) as a focal point on top of the agenda.

From left: Ms. Nondumiso Mahlaba, Director of EPWP, pictured with colleagues from National and Provincial representing the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)

Deputy Director, EPWP, Mr. Sihadi, who spoke on behalf of the National Department of Public Works, outlined the Conditional Grants for which the Department is accountable.

This includes the Planning Process for Conditional Grants, Disbursement of Incentive Grant, and an examination of how grants are planned to be disbursed in three (3) tranches, with the first tranche allocated (25%), the second one allocated (45%), and the last one which provides 30%, respectively.

In-depth presentations covered the reporting requirements in accordance with DoRA's Section 12 (ii) Reallocation of Funds, Conversion of Allocations, and Stopping of Grant Allocation, Unused money at the end of the fiscal year and the financial performance of EPWP Grants 2022/23 Financial Year examining the data for the EPWP Integrated Grant for Provinces.

National Representatives Mr Mashego and Mr Sihadi

From Left: Ms. Makhathini and Mr. Radebe giving their Technical Support Presentations

EPWP Steering Committee

EPWP EVALUATES PROGRESS AS THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR DRAWS TO A CLOSE

Article by Nelisiwe Mkhize
Images by: Sibongile Dlangalala

From left, Mr S. Simelane from the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, Mr B. Dlamini: Chief Director, KZN EPWP, Cllr. Z.A. Dladla: Speaker - Mpofana Local Municipality and Ms N. Mahlaba: Director Expanded Public Works Programme

ETHEKWINI: On Tuesday, 04 April 2023 the KwaZulu-Natal Expanded Public Works Programme’s Provincial Steering Committee convened a tactical engagement to evaluate service delivery related progress made during the 2022/2023 financial year.

This committee serves as a provincial structure which boasts representatives from a coordinating player, the KZN Department of Public Works, various municipalities and other government departments.

Setting the tone while outlining the purpose of the meeting, Chief Director, EPWP Directorate, Mr Bongani Dlamini said, the recent 2023 EPWP Focus Week programme surely created a conducive platform for the Department to easily identify municipalities which require prompt interventions. Adding that, such interventions will enable the EPWP Coordination component to meet its prescribed targets as per the government mandate on job creation.

The meeting also heard that, proper evaluation of work which has already been concluded by the provincial EPWP team paves a way for a looming emergence of innovative plans to be implemented in the new financial year.

Agenda items mooted a series of achievements and interventions which cut across a plethora of accomplishments presented during the KZN EPWP Focus Week programme held between the 20 February and 31 March 2023.

Such items stretched to the presentation of EPWP Framework on People with Disabilities, EPWP Policy, upcoming EPWP events and proposed interventions to be implemented moving forward.

Government officials who attended a meeting held at the Department of Public Works in Mayville, Durban

A total of 643 269 work opportunities under Phase IV of the EPWP provisions have been flagged as an overall target.

Atleast 600 390 work opportunities have been created which amount to 93% achievement successfully registered by the province.

For the 2023/24 financial year, the annual target set for job opportunities is 135 238 and 62 479 full time respectively.

Mpofana Local Municipality’s Speaker, Cllr Z.A Dladla reported on insightful strategies used by his municipality to meet the prescribed targets for the year. His remarks cited a good working relationship with relevant Ward Committees in ensuring proper identification of EPWP beneficiaries. He also extended a word of appreciation to the Department for fulfilling a government mandate around creation of job opportunities.

FM Policy Workshop

Increasing Efficiency Within Facilities Management

Article by Nelisiwe Mkhize
Images by Sibongile Dlangalala

Department of Public Works officials representing different Provinces.

ETHEKWINI REGION: On Thursday 20 April 2023 the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works hosted the Facilities Management Policy and Strategy Work Stream Sub Committee Meeting at The Natal Sharks board, Umhlanga Rocks in Durban.

The meeting which was directed by the Deputy Director General: Research and Regulation component from the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (NDPWI), Ms Nana Mhlongo and Advocate Nishi Sharma from Facilities Management section was attended by government officials in the Property Management field from all nine provinces.

KZN Department of Public Works’ Deputy Director General: Corporate Services, Mr Phiweyo Duma and Advocate Nishi Sharma from the Facilities Management Branch representing the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure

Speaking on behalf of the KZN Department of Public Works, DDG Corporate Services, Mr Phiweyo Duma, expressed a word of appreciation saying this is a strategic platform which will enable public servants to work together as a collective and share ideas under the leadership of the National Department Public Works and Infrastructure which is renowned for creativity and much-required innovation within the professional space.

The meeting was anchored around a plethora of high-level presentations offered by Advocate Nishi Sharma. Such presentations reflected on, Functions Performed at a Provincial and National levels, Standardization and Technical competencies, Budgetary Alignments and Innovative