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By Jonisayi Maromo 
8h ago
Pretoria – The Democratic Alliance (DA) criticized on Friday the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), Patricia de Lille, for the massive expenditure of R37 million for the construction of a 40 km border fence in Beibridge that was quickly damaged .
“South African taxpayers have disbursed a whopping R37 million for what is effectively a ‘laundering line’ to prevent Covid-19 from reaching South Africa from Zimbabwe. Nearly R1 million per kilometer was spent on a 1.8-meter-high wire fence designed to stop illegal border crossings into South Africa along the Beitbridge border post, “said District Attorney Samantha Graham-Maré.
She said De Lille’s announcement that repairs totaling R37m would be made 40 km from the border fence should have signaled a new era to tackle South Africa’s “almost non-existent border” with Zimbabwe.
“It would have ensured that miles of stolen fences for animal kraals around the Beitbridge border area had been replaced and restored. According to the minister (De Lille), all emergency procurement protocols had been followed. A contractor had been duly appointed to do accelerated work to protect our country against the movement of undocumented illegals with the potential to infect South Africans, ”said Graham-Maré.
Sadly, in a matter of days, images emerged of huge holes in the new fence. Reports of stolen fences followed. The minister replied that he would increase security around the fence to ensure there were no further breaches. What type of border fence do we get that requires your own security? What quality of material was used so that it can barely support a wire cutter, and who wrote the specifications for this fence? A game fence on an ordinary game farm stands between 1.8 meters and 2.4 meters high. ”
The district attorney pointed out that a border fence, like the one erected on the border between Morocco and Spain, is 6m high.
“This border fence, which costs R37 million, should be impenetrable, and built to last. Clearly it is not. Subsequently, the minister reversed his previous claims that the appointment of Caledon River Properties as Magwa Construction was within the guidelines for acquisition of the declared national disaster state, ”said Graham-Maré.
“In addition, the department admitted to deviating from the acquisition process by naming Magwa Construction through a nomination process. After stoically defending the appointment, the minister has requested an audit of the entire project by the attorney general. We can only hope that their audit also reveals the basis on which Magwa Construction was selected above other better-known companies. ”
On Friday, the district attorney said he had sent questions to De Lille about the contractor’s appointment, as well as the fence’s specifications and the value for money South African taxpayers received.
“If the purpose of the fence was simply a temporary cessation of the influx of illegal immigrants to protect our population against Covid-19, then perhaps the fence built would have been enough. But it was not. It has been hailed as the new border fence between South Africa and Zimbabwe, ”said Graham-Maré.
“Unfortunately, Minister De Lille’s fence is a R37 million band-aid in a bullet wound. If we are going to protect our borders, we need a ‘Fire Serpent’, not a washing line that costs almost R1 million per kilometer.”
In March, De Lille announced that construction of a new fence on the Beitbridge border between South Africa and Zimbabwe was beginning and would be completed within 40 days.
“In terms of Section 27 (2) (l) of the Disaster Management Act, No. 57 of 2002, I have invoked emergency procurement procedures in connection with the construction and repair of border fences, east and west of the Beitbridge border post, “De Lille said at the time.
The move followed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech to the nation when he declared a state of national disaster in response to the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, saying that the country’s borders would be secured.
African News Agency (ANA)
* For the latest on the Covid-19 outbreak, visit IOL’s special #Coronavirus page.
** If you think you have been exposed to the Covid-19 virus, call the 24-hour hotline at 0800 029 999 or visit sacoronavirus.co.za
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