The public works minister says his department is making headway in tackling the so-called construction mafia and that KwaZulu-Natal, which was once considered the epicentre of construction-related extortion, has now recorded a full year without a single project disruption. “Early indicators show that confidence is slowly being restored in the sector,” Dean Macpherson said. Early indicators show that confidence is slowly being restored in the [construction] sector.
He said the department is working closely with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on lifestyle audits and the ghost-employee investigation to strengthen integrity, detect fraud risks and protect public funds. Phase two of the lifestyle audits began in March and covers 400 officials over two years. So far, 69 officials have undergone audits, with document submissions and third-party verifications almost complete.
He said the final consolidated report is due in mid-December. “While most officials have complied, a small number have either delayed submissions or failed to cooperate, and the department will act on any non-compliance once the SIU completes its findings,” he said. He said the ghost-employee audit is also progressing across all regions and that phase one has been completed.
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“At head office, where 1,023 officials are employed, 991 were verified, with 32 remaining unverified. One official was found to be a ghost employee and had received more than R340,000 net between April and August 2025 without rendering any service to the department,” he said, adding that the official’s salary had been stopped and the matter was being finalised for recovery and criminal action. Macpherson said the process has revealed gaps in internal controls, particularly around staff movements, which increased fraud risks. The internal audit department is now leading phase two, focusing on the personnel and salary system, undue benefits, irregular appointments and control failures, he said.
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