Question NW3400 to the Minister of Public Works
03 December 2018 - NW3400
Stubbe, Mr DJ to ask the Minister of Public Works
With reference to the findings of the Section 106 Investigation into allegations of fraud, corruption, maladministration, financial misconduct and malpractice at the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality, (a) by what date will his department settle its debt amounting to R591 375 032 million with the specified municipality for the 2017-18 municipal financial year, (b) what are the reasons for the non-payment of his department’s services account and (c) will any disciplinary action be instituted against any officials responsible for the non-payment of the account?
Reply:
(a) Through the engagement with the Sol Plaatje municipality, it was indicated that the National Department of Public Works (NDPW) only owed R69,455,161.45 of the total owed to the municipality. The NDPW, through a discount of 10% by the municipality, managed to settle its outstanding debt which came to R62,509,645.33 and the amount was paid on 29 October 2018.
(b) The Department was in the process of verifying the debt it owed to the Municipality.
(c) At this stage it has not been found that non-payment is as a result of a deliberate act or omission on the part of any official department.