Public works and infrastructure minister Patricia de Lille
has defended the R37m fence at the Beitbridge border between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
This follows widespread criticism of the minister after
images were circulated on social media showing that the barbed-wire fence had
been cut through, with a hole clearly visible.
De Lille has lashed out about how there has been no
condemnation of the criminals who cut the fence. Instead, she said, the
criticism has been directed at her department and the contractor working on the
project.
“As is widely known, the border fence line has also been
subject to criminal activities which have resulted in the procurement of
additional security personnel and the deployment of defence force officials to
provide additional security support. To date there have been no formal
arrests,” she said on Friday.
She said her department had, from the onset, emphasised the
importance of safeguarding the asset and securing the border, with the
contractor using more than the usual number of security personnel.
She revealed that there has been theft of some of the
contractor’s materials, which resulted in her writing to defence minister
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on April 4, asking for the deployment of SANDF members.
A number of SANDF members were then deployed to conduct
patrols in helicopters, on foot, on motorcycles and in 4x4 vehicles.
“It is disappointing that at this time when the department
of public works and infrastructure and the contractor are doing their utmost to
fulfil a request by the president to secure the border that the public
commentary has been silent on the criminal elements and theft. There has not
been any condemnation of these criminal acts,” said De Lille.
The minister sought to assure the public, following
“serious concerns” raised about the value of the contract, that the department
followed all the required processes in awarding the contract.
She said while many have questioned the R37m cost, and
asked whether it equated to nearly R1m per kilometre, the equation was not that
simple, especially on such a complex project.
She said the cost of a project in a remote area differed
compared to inland or urban project costs a similar scope. The complex rates in
this project are influenced by acceleration costs such as the short contract
period, more labour resources required to do the job, increased speed of
provision of material, and increased overheads for management and plant
equipment.
There is an intensive labour component to the project given
the compressed timeframe and this is part of the overall contract costs, she
said.
6.5-million travellers recorded at SA ports of entry during
festive season
“We must seek to find positivity in times of despair and the
silver lining as it pertains to this project, and that is the contribution this
project has had on the local economy. It has meant 160 local labourers have
been able to bring money and food to their families.
“The same is applicable to all other workers on this site,
including security personnel, local manufacturers and suppliers who have
ensured the continuous supply of large quantities of material given the short
turnaround time. The have also received a much-needed boost to their business
operations.
“Of course we would prefer that the circumstances were
different, that we didn’t have to work under these conditions, but it is the
reality we are faced with and it is our collaborative and positive approach
that will drive our success both on this project and as country, and as such we
continue to pull together,” said De Lille.
She said the contractor, Magwa Construction, had completed
much of the onerous work, including the site clearance, removal of the old,
damaged fence and the installation of the new posts, gates and stream
crossings.
The remaining work is less complex and the contractor was
expected to complete the work in the next few days.
The overall tender sum of the project covers the provision
of materials, disposal of the old damaged fence, accelerated construction
activities, additional security – from six private security personnel to more
than 40 - and general occupational health and safety related compliance
measures as well as Covid-19 risk mitigation measures on site.
The fence is meant to ensure that no persons cross into or
out of the country as part of the efforts to contain the spread of the
coronavirus after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a state of disaster which
closed some border posts. Times
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