The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for the immediate withdrawal and setting aside of the appointment of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) acting director-general Alec Moemi by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Patricia de Lille given what the DA says is his poor track record and a waste of taxpayers money.

In a statement, DA Shadow Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Samantha Graham-Maré said Moemi’s appointment raises a lot of red flags considering that he left a trail of destruction at the Department of Transport while still the substantive director-general.

“It is now a matter of public record that rail transport infrastructure has practically collapsed and the drivers’ licence system is operating in crisis mode – under his watch,” she said.

Graham-Maré views the appointment to be a mockery of professionalism and fit-for-purpose appointments in the public service.

She said with Sam Vukela, the current director-general of the DPWI, still on suspension pending the finalization of his disciplinary case, De Lille’s department had been lurching from one crisis to another.

“Moemi’s appointment does not inspire confidence in that he appears to have been snuck in behind the scenes and appointed with no experience in the department whatsoever. The motivation behind his appointment is extremely suspect given that he was the Director-General of Transport prior to his appointment as a Deputy Director General in DPWI. Six months later, he is the Acting Director-General of an extremely complex Department that he knows very little about”.

Graham-Maré added that taxpayers should not be forced to foot the bill for De Lille’s failure to bring stability to her department.