“We are owed millions by this government and have been raising concerns since last year with no solution. On Monday, we will be picketing outside the Public Works office in KZN to protest the same issue. Unfortunately, the department failed to deliver on its promise to pay contractors by mid-December, leaving many of us without money over Christmas and facing pressure from loan sharks,” said contractor Lungi Zuma.


Responding to the allegations of non-payment, KwaZulu-Natal Public Works MEC Martin Meyer said his department understood the frustrations and that the matter was being addressed at cabinet level.

“We paid more than R500 million to contractors in December and managed to reduce the outstanding debt from R900 million to R200 million. However, the reality is that we don’t control the budget. We must wait for payments from our client departments, whether it be education or others. We are addressing this at the highest level with cabinet and working hard to find a solution,” Meyer said.

Since taking office, Meyer has also intensified efforts to combat corruption within his department.

Recently, several officials, including the former director of the Supply Chain Management unit and three others, were implicated in alleged negligence, corruption and misconduct, which reportedly cost the department more than R1 billion.

Meyer confirmed that criminal charges are being pursued and said efforts would be made to ensure those found guilty are not re-employed within government.

The crackdown has extended nationally, leading to the arrest of several officials from Public Works departments in other provinces.


The arrests have confirmed longstanding complaints from contractors that corrupt officials demand kickbacks for tenders, which affects the prioritisation of payments.

While welcoming the anti-corruption drive, contractors say it offers little immediate relief to their financial struggles.

“It’s good news that they are finally taking action against corrupt officials, which we have been talking about for a long time, but it doesn’t solve our payment issues. Arresting officials doesn’t provide financial relief. We have commitments and debts for work already done for the government.


“We are being told that Public Works is owed money by the Department of Education, which is why they can’t pay us. But why should that be our problem?

We complete the work and tender for jobs with Public Works as the custodian of these projects, yet when it comes to payments, we are told it’s not their responsibility. So why do they issue tenders if they can’t pay? Where is the budget for these contracts?” asked Zuma, who claims to be owed more than R2 million in outstanding payments.

The SA Reserve Bank’s Prudential Authority has filed papers in the Pietermaritzburg High Court for the provisional liquidation of Ithala SOC Limited. This comes after the authority appointed a repayment administrator responsible for the repayment of deposits.

Although commonly referred to as a bank, Ithala was never granted a banking licence. However, the Minister of Finance granted an exemption to Ithala allowing the entity to receive deposits while it regularised its operations.

According to the SA Reserve Bank, the repayment administrator has established that Ithala is technically and legally insolvent, exposing depositors to potential loss of their deposits.

The Department of Transport successfully launched the 8th United Nations Global Road Safety Week on Sunday, 11 May 2025, at Soldiers Way CBD Taxi Rank in Durban, KwaZuluNatal. The event, held under the theme “Make Walking and Cycling Safe,” focused on raising awareness about the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.
The Deputy Minister of Transport, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, is actively participating in the UN’s Global Road Safety Campaign, which runs from Sunday, 11 May to Friday, 16 May 2025 in Durban.

As part of the campaign, this event at the taxi rank was aimed to educate taxi drivers and commuters on the importance of road safety when using public transport. The Deputy Minister was joined by officials from the Provincial Department of Transport, eThekwini MMC for Transport, Human Settlements and Engineering, Councillor Themba Mvubu, law enforcement officials, and representatives from various civil society organizations, including SANTACO and various stakeholders.

The launch marked the start of a week-long series of activities held in line with the global UN Road Safety Week, observed from 12 to 18 May 2025

MAHIKENG – North West Premier Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi has applauded Harmony Gold for
an investment of one-point five billion rand at its Stilfontein operations in the City of Matlosana
Local Municipality.
The investment is a culmination of ongoing efforts by Premier Mokgosi to lure investments and
address the scourge of unemployment afflicting the province.
Earlier this year Premier Mokgosi met with the company’s Executive Management on the sidelines of the Africa Mining Indaba to discuss a number of issues relating to diversification,
localization and SMME Development.
The initiative which will create several jobs opportunities for the people of the province adds to
seven-billion-rand worth of investment by the mine in 2022, which includes an extension of
Moab-Khotsong operations at Stilfontein.
Premier Mokgosi says the investment gives credence to government’s efforts of fostering
partnerships with the various stakeholders to create an enabling environment for investment
and job creation.
“This forms part of a broader strategy by government to encourage investments in the
province. I have no doubt that as more investments trickle in, several more job and business
opportunities will be created and this will help reduce the high unemployment figures afflicting
the province” Premier Mokgosi said.
Newly appointed Chief Executive Officer Mr Beyers Nel maintains, the renewable energy
investment forms part of its long-term investment and diversification strategy.
“Through our seven-billion-rand investment in 2022, we managed to preserve six thousand
jobs for locals, extending the mines lifespan by twenty years. In 2020, we acquired Mine
Waste Solutions leading to an investment of over two billion rand and we have created close
to two thousand five hundred jobs, seventy percent of which are locals”.
Premier Mokgosi who was accompanied by the MEC for Finance, Kenetswe Mosenogi and
Acting Director General, Ndlela Kunene lauded the mine for their investment initiatives and
have urged them to support the Province’s Development Fund, which is primarily aimed at
addressing infrastructure backlogs in the province.

ENDS

Issued by the North West Office of the Premier.
For enquiries, contact
Sello Tatai
Spokesperson to the Premier
North West Provincial Government
Cell: 064 756 2510 / 082 450 7842
E-mail: SITatai@nwpg.gov.za

Or

Brian Setswambung
Provincial Head of Communication
Office of the Premier
North West Provincial Government
Cell: 076 012 4501
E-mail: BSetswambung@nwpg.gov.za