Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has welcomed the dismissal by the North Gauteng High Court of the interdict application to suspend the appointment of five trustees to the board of the Independent Development Trust (IDT).

In its ruling, the court found that the manner in which the applicants conducted the litigation was “so egregious” that it ordered a punitive costs order on an attorney and client basis on the highest possible scale, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) says.

It adds that the ruling demonstrates that the DPWI acted in the best interests of ethical governance at the IDT in opposing the application brought by Black Forum SA and Izwi Labantu Forum.

Macpherson said that, in his view, it is not a coincidence that the litigation comes in the context of the fightback that the department and he have faced in cleaning up the IDT.

The ruling is a victory for the IDT and the people it is meant to serve through the construction of social infrastructure across the country, he adds.

The court rejected every argument of the applicants regarding the interdictory relief sought and upheld every argument advanced by the Minister in that regard.

“From the onset, it has been clear that there are a number of individuals, including politicians, who are deeply concerned about the work we are doing to clean up the IDT and restore it to good governance after years of serious corruption allegations and maladministration,” says Macpherson.

“The victory in this court case, despite the publication of fake news articles, falsified voice notes and a coordinated social media campaign, is a great step forward in ensuring that individuals are brought to account to answer for serious cases of corruption.

“The ruling therefore reinforces my resolve to clean up the IDT and restore ethical governance after years of serious corruption allegations and maladministration at the entity. Despite the repeated public attacks I have faced, the ruling reaffirms that I will not be bullied or back down from our work at the IDT,” he says.

He thanked the legal team for dealing decisively with the case from the outset to ensure that all legal prescripts were followed and for leaving no opportunity for others to use legal means to stop or delay the work to clean up the IDT.

“The IDT board now enjoys the assurance that it can act with full legal authority. When I entered office, I vowed to restore good governance at the DPWI and its entities. The days of looking away when corruption allegations emerged have come to an end.

“Slowly but surely, we are turning the tide within the department and its entities to ensure that they play an important role in improving the lives of all South Africans and building a better country,” Macpherson asserts.