Question NW2113 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
09 June 2022 - NW2113
Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)As the Commissioning Principal of the Binder Dijker Otte audit investigation on the Review of Parliament Prestige Construction Projects Performance, what is her official position or stance with regard to the terms of reference of the investigation; (2) whether she had been advised of the timelines of the agreement; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, does she and/or her department agree with the timelines of the agreement; (3) whether the specified company was able to meet the agreed timelines and deliver on the agreed deliverables timeously; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
(1) I commissioned the report after a meeting with the Presiding Officers of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces on 07 October 2019. This followed a complaint by the Presiding Officers about the time, quality and budget overrun of the Prestige projects in Parliament. The terms of reference were developed between the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and Parliament which covered the areas of concern raised by the Presiding Officers.
(2) The timelines provided to Binder Dijker Otte to deliver the report was 6 months due to the number of projects to be audited.
(3) Binder Dijker Otte delivered the report to the Department by 20 November 2020, within three months of their appointment. However, the report was only given to me almost a year later on 17 September 2021. The report was subsequently handed to the Speaker of the National Assembly on 18 September 2022 for processing.