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On Tuesday, the committee expressed concern about the delay, saying it wanted to finish the controversial failed R40 million Department of Public Works and Infrastructure project.
The Beitbridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe. Image: @ HomeAffairsSA / Twitter
CAPE TOWN – The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) has asked the National Treasury to finalize its investigative report on the Beitbridge border fence.
On Tuesday, the committee expressed concern about the delay, saying it wanted to finish the controversial failed R40 million Department of Public Works and Infrastructure project.
The Beitbridge border fence project was part of the emergency procurement during the state of disaster as a result of COVID-19. But the project drew ire from MPs who said the fence was not fit for purpose and a wasteful expense.
Scopa President Mkhuleko Hlengwa expressed frustration at the delays in finalizing the Treasury report on the participation of Minister Patricia de Lille.
“Our own staff have been chasing the National Treasury all this time in preparation for this meeting so that members could have received that information … we haven’t even received the basics that we wanted, but they are an integral part of this process in order to for us to finalize our report, ”Hlengwa said.
Scopa members also wanted De Lille to explain his relationship with adviser Melissa Whitehead, who is implicated in the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) report on the project.
“On what happened regarding the indictment of Melissa Whitehead as recommended by the SIU, and whether she has been suspended from her duties in the interim,” said DA Rep. Alf Lees.
De Lille told MPs that she appreciated being held accountable and said she was committed to cooperating in all investigations.
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