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The Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure is concerned that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) continues to use the software company SAGE despite its many flaws. The DPWI appeared before the committee yesterday to report on its First and Second Quarter performance.  
 
The committee is concerned that government funds are lost through SAGE and that in April, March, and more recently, November, the department was hacked, and money was lost.
 
Committee Chairperson Ms Carol Phiri said, “It is baffling that SAGE gives you a problem to the point that you are unable to pay service providers on time because it has been hacked several times. With the hacking, you are losing funds, and yet you are still using this system.” The system is not fit for purpose, and DPWI should have worked with systems approved by the National Treasury, she said.
 
Ms Phiri said she is happy that the Minister is leading ‘Operation Pay on Time’, as the hacking leads to service providers not being paid on time and some not being paid at all. “This means you are suffocating SMMEs, those who are growing. You are limiting and making them failures, preventing them from becoming the businesses we anticipate them to be."
 
The committee was also concerned by comments from the DPWI that the Independent Development Trust (IDT) poses a risk to it as a direct reporting entity due to the non-submission of financial statements. The committee noted problematic issues raised by the DPWI but directed the minister to use his ministerial powers and engage the entity to find workable solutions. Members of the committee said the IDT is an important entity in transforming social infrastructure and needs support before it can be flagged as a risk. Moreover, the state is being overcharged for construction projects, and the IDT as a state entity can be used as a hedge to cheapen the cost of development and infrastructure projects. It requires support to fulfil its role as an important development agency.
 
Furthermore, the committee said it was deeply disappointed by the underrepresentation of women and people with disabilities in appointments. The 48% target is inadequate and falls short of the transformation needed in male-dominated industries. The committee said that to truly increase gender participation, women must be prioritised, and deliberate steps must be taken to break down barriers and create opportunities for their advancement.

Issued by the Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, Carol Phiri