/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Infrastructure Built Anti-Corruption Forum (IBACF) continues to play a critical role in ensuring a multi-stakeholder collaboration in the fight against fraud, corruption, and maladministration in the construction sector. The IBACF is one of the strategic interventions that is being implemented to protect the integrity of the approved government Infrastructure Investment Plan through detection and prevention of corruption in the construction sector. While there are ongoing investigations in the construction sector to ensure consequence management such as civil recoveries, prosecution and disciplinary actions, the IBACF has put more focus on the corruption prevention initiatives to ensure that there is a pro-active approach in the fight against fraud and corruption in the construction sector.

In the IBACF meeting held on 05 April 2023 under the Chairmanship of the Head of SIU, Adv Andy Mothibi, a number of corruption prevention initiatives that are being implemented in the sector were discussed. Progress on the corruption risk management initiative in the sector that is led by Infrastructure South Africa was discussed where the focus is to ensure integrity in the implementation of critical infrastructure projects. A proactive approach is being implemented in all critical project life cycle, particularly when it comes to the procurement stage of the project where the risk of corruption is high. Data analytics is another corruption prevention initiative that is being implemented in the construction sector with an objective of mining data to highlight corruption risk exposures in the sector and identification of key strategic interventions to enhance integrity measures.

The audit outcomes on the delivery of infrastructure projects are serving as a critical input in the identifying strategic interventions that IBACF is implementing. The audit outcomes has revealed the following root cases in the infrastructure delivery that are hampering government’s ability to drive service delivery, economic growth and opportunities:
• Lack of effective project planning and adequate coordination
• Shortage of project management skills and capacity at departmental level
• Action plans on non-performance not enforced and consequence not applied.
• Inadequate coordination and collaboration and deliverables not synchronised.
• Inspection and maintenance not done and insufficient budget

Education and training is another focus area of the IBACF where free anti-corruption related training courses in the construction sector are offered free of charge. These capacity development interventions that are aimed at capacitating stakeholder in the construction sector to fight fraud and corruption are offered through one of the members that has partnered with IBACF, which is The Global Infrastructure Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC). The main objective is to promote the implementation of anti-corruption measures as an integral part of public-private partnership in the infrastructure projects. As part of education and awareness, the IBACF has also identified hosting of webinars as a critical component of corruption prevention initiatives. Thematic areas that are being explored for webinars include unpacking corruption and its impact on infrastructure development in South Africa, effective investigations, prosecutions, and civil recoveries as a corruption-deterrent in infrastructure development, the role of whistle-blowers in detecting fraud and corruption in the infrastructure build sector and dissecting the role of construction regulators and professional bodies in the fight against corruption.

The Infrastructure Pledge has also been signed publicly by key stakeholders in the construction sector where they have committed themselves to maintain high standard of ethics in the implementation of infrastructure projects in the construction sector. Lifestyle Audits have been conducted in the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to all senior management. The department is currently in the process of implementing consequence management as per the outcomes of the lifestyle audits conducted.

Issued by The Special Investigating Unit Chief Stakeholder Relations and Communications, Kaizer Kganyago