Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has welcomed the Construction Industry Development Board’s (CIDB) decision to blacklist 40 contractors since June 2024, calling it a “dramatic turnaround” after only one contractor had been blacklisted since 2002.

The blacklisted contractors are now prohibited from bidding for tenders or being awarded work by the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure (DPWI) and its entities, a move minister Macpherson said demonstrates the Department’s commitment to combating non-performance and corruption.

“The move to blacklist these non-performing contractors is exactly what we promised South Africans when I took office, that those who underperform or engage in corruption will be held accountable and removed from the system. The CIDB’s action to blacklist these contractors means we have put our words into action and sent a clear message: the days of impunity are over,” Minister Macpherson said.

The Minister highlighted the stark contrast between the current action and the previous two decades, noting that only a single company had been blacklisted since 2002.

“That situation was completely unacceptable in an environment where construction projects remained incomplete or poorly built across the country. It undermined trust in the State’s ability to act decisively. This is why we are turning over a new leaf by restoring accountability, cleaning up the industry, and ensuring public money delivers quality infrastructure that communities can rely on,” he said.

Minister Macpherson added that the Department is refining its internal processes to ensure swifter blacklisting of non-performing contractors and the recovery of public funds.

“Over the last year, we have worked to strengthen the Department by filling key vacancies, introducing new accountability mechanisms, and tightening our procurement processes. These 40 blacklistings are proof that our reforms are working, but we are not done yet. We are expediting our work to clean up the Department and its entities to ensure that we can play a key role in building a better country for all South Africans.”

IOL News

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