Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille says while her department prepares to upgrade the Beitbridge border fence, the Department of Defence has, to date, not submitted its approved specifications for a new fence.

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) finalised a technical condition report on the constructed fence.

In its current form, the fence was not fit for purpose and was in "material non-compliance with the project specifications".

According to De Lille, the DPWI had resolved not to carry out any repairs on the fence as it would constitute wasteful expenditure.

She was answering a written parliamentary question from African Transformation Movement MP Vuyolwethu Zungula, who wanted details on the DPWI's plan to ensure a proper border fence at Beitbridge to prevent illegal immigration.

"The DPWI is also currently collaborating with the Department of Defence (DOD), the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), the Border Management Authority (BMA) and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) to develop a multi-party Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to integrate and align the collective roles, responsibilities and operational plans of each organisation on the matter of border fencing and control as a precursor to implementing a new integrated border-line solution," she said.

According to De Lille, a request for information (RFI) was commissioned by DPWI on 28 March 2021.

"The RFI closed on 26 April 2021, and 16 proposals have been received. The bid evaluation committee completed the evaluation of bids in June 2021. Three bids were compliant with the terms of reference of the RFI. Compliant bids were submitted to DOD in July 2021 to be incorporated into the final specifications for border fences. DOD indicated in a meeting held on 11 November 2021 that engagements are transpiring internally and will confirm the submission date of their approved specifications by 25 November 2021. To date, DOD has not submitted their approved specifications," De Lille said.

The DPWI's national bid adjudication committee (NBAC) approved both bids for the project in March 2020.

On 18 March, the NBAC approved the appointment of Magwa Construction, to provide contractor services at a cost of R37-million.

The next day, Profteam CC's appointment was approved to provide professional services, at a cost of R3.2-million.

Magwa Construction received R21-million and Profteam CC just over R1.8-million in advance.

The SIU's investigation uncovered a litany of irregularities, including the pre-payment, after which the department was interdicted, prohibited and restrained by the Special Tribunal from making further payments, pending the conclusion of the civil case.

The R40.4-million contracts were reviewed and set aside by agreement among the parties.

The fence delivered to the department was easily circumvented, poorly built, and low quality.

Furthermore, De Lille said the site acquisition feasibilities had been completed, while construction feasibilities would require 12 to 18 months to complete upon receipt of DOD output specifications.

"The collective body of work from the above processes will identify viable engineering options, risk analysis and mitigation strategies, funding models and budget coordination. These would input into subsequent bid and construction processes and enable informed funding requests to be submitted to National Treasury," she said.