Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has called on his department to work with the Department of Water and Sanitation to take action against corrupt officials involved with the Giyani Water Project.

Tabling his maiden Medium Term Budget Policy Statement in the National Assembly on Wednesday, the minister noted that the Giyani Water Project was plagued with malfeasance.

“It is a cesspool of corruption. The challenges range from a complete disregard for supply chain rules to poor contract management, resulting in irregular expenditure.

“It is clear that a new delivery and financing model is required to provide water services to communities,” he said.

Stronger focus on project management

Mboweni said a key element of the new approach will be a stronger focus on project management and contract governance to ensure that projects, such as the Giyani Water Project, are fit for purpose and maximise value for money in the water sector.

“I have asked the Director General of the National Treasury to work with the Department of Water and Sanitation to ensure that appropriate action is taken against all guilty officials implicated in the Auditor General’s report.

“The President has informed me that he will go to Giyani to see exactly what has happened and what needs to be done,” he said.

Government dealing with Vaal River crisis “decisively and urgently”

Meanwhile, the minister noted that government was dealing with the water crisis in the Vaal River System “decisively and urgently”.

“Our immediate focus is to mobilise short-term financing by reprioritising funds and increasing capacity.

“I have asked the President and the Minister of Defence for the military to assist with engineering and other expertise to resolve the crisis in the Vaal River System. I am happy to report that approval has been granted. The generals in charge have already started working on solutions,” he said.