KZN Transport welcomes SIU investigation on the new jersey barrier wall project on the Mozambique border

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport welcomes the investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on the new jersey barrier wall project, which is being implemented to curb cross-border crime between South Africa and Mozambique.

In a statement, the SIU said it is investigating this R85-million project, which was awarded to a joint venture between ISF Construction and Shula Construction in August 2018. This is after they received a tip-off from a whistleblower, on the alleged corruption involving this project.

The Department of Transport will fully cooperate with the investigation and will share all necessary documentation, including the expenditure of the projects.

The construction of the new jersey barriers is a decision of the government after a huge outcry from the community of eManguzi on the rampant vehicle theft, which was then taken across to Mozambique. This resulted in violent protests with the people of uMkhanyakude shutting down the entire town of eManguzi, which affected the movement of goods and trade, tourism and other strategic activities between South Africa and Mozambique.

The series of interventions, including visits by the national government and the provincial government to Manguzi, was made in a bid to address the scourge, however, the problem persisted. Part of the interventions included bilateral and diplomatic engagements with the Mozambique government.

The syndicate involved in this crime has gone to an extent of terrorizing the community, including women and at some point, targeting government vehicles.

Considering the threat and instability this crime posed on the provincial security, a decision was taken by the Provincial Executive Council to engage the national government to urgently find a solution to this matter.

It was agreed that due to the urgency of the project, which was not on the plans for the national government, the province must find ways to resource the project and ultimately enter in a memorandum of agreement with the Department of National Public Works for the reimbursement. There was a long delay in the signing of the MoU which prompted series of engagements between the province and national government.

The decision was that the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport will be the implementing agent and will construct and install the concrete walls of an 8-kilometre distance. All professional work was done, including design and geometrics, which resulted in an open tender process.

Notwithstanding the challenges in the project, mainly the environmental approvals which is the responsibility of the Department of Public Works, which has caused delays, the Department of Transport continued with the project to respond to the plight of the people of the province, who were losing patience with government.

The Department of Transport directed the contractor to use this as an empowerment project, creating empowerment for local contractors by manufacturing the concrete in the area and creating jobs.

Thus far, 4.350 kilometres of walls covered, 6 100 concrete manufactured locally, 36 local companies sub-contracted and 55 jobs were created for local people.

With work done in this project, the indications are that cases of vehicle theft are going down, which proves the effectiveness of the decision to embark on this project.

Commenting on the latest developments, the MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Ms Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni, said the department will cooperate with the investigation.