The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson has been accused of instituting oppressive style tactics at the Independent Development Trust (IDT) to only benefit his DA constituency.

NGO Integrity Network has written a lengthy letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa complaining that Macpherson is attempting to undermine the IDT board, in order to ultimately insert a board that is aligned to himself and his party, the DA.

This follows the minister’s insertion of an investigation the IDT following allegations that relate to a R800 million Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant tender.

Macpherson spokesperson, James de Villiers, said the minister’s actions follow an announcement by the IDT that the Department of Health intends to cancel the PSA Oxygen Plants tender.

Integrity Network has however lambasted the minister and accused him of misleading the public.

“Mr President, the minister is well aware that the Pressure Swing Absorption Oxygen Plant was not funded by government. It was funded by the Global Fund, and approved by the Department of Health with the aim of providing sustainable and adequate oxygen supply to various health facilities, promoting quality healthcare services.

“For the minister to pretend to not know the facts is deeply concerning. This project was not funded by government, and the IDT was simply the conduit for the work to be done. Although the functioning of government may be new to the minister, all that information is available to him through the board and the executive. The only reasonable awakening here is that the minister is intending to use this disinformation to dissolve the board so he can insert a DA-aligned board” the NGO said.

It appears that with the duration of 44 months, the IDT was intending to oversee the construction and maintenance of 60 PSA oxygen plants, ensuring effective operation and supporting infrastructure.

The project’s initial scope included 15 hospitals for R216 million. However, additional funding from the Global Fund expanded the scope to 55 hospitals, with a total budget of R836 061 847.

This initiative aligns with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s vision to “turn South Africa into a construction site,” emphasising the IDT’s vital role in infrastructure delivery.

Since its establishment in 1990, the IDT has implemented numerous projects, including hospital and health centre constructions, bringing essential services closer to communities.

Although the minister’s spokesperson said that when the allegations regarding the tender surfaced, Macpherson engaged with the Independent Development Trust (IDT) on multiple occasions, it appears that Macpherson has not, since taking office, ever met the board of the IDT.

Macpherson has dismissed the IDT's intention to investigate the processes behind the awarding of the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant bids, citing the board’s shortage of quorum and that it cannot investigate itself.

Macpherson said he had asked Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, whom he had briefed on numerous occasions and to whom he had provided as much information as possible for his collaboration and support.

“The way in which Minister Motsoaledi and I worked together in the best interests of South Africans on this matter is truly commendable to ensure access to life-saving oxygen, and to shed light and accountability on this tender when the facts became known to us,” said Macpherson.

The NGO has stressed to Ramaphosa that the Macpherson’s “attack on the the oxygen project” reeks of oppression. “As we are all aware the oxygen is needed in most community health centres and public hospitals where the majority of African people receive treatment. The global fund gives South Africa about 18 billion a year, acutely for TB and HIV assistance, in the poorest of communities.

“Would the minister feel that same if the fund went to assist middle class white South Africans? Why is assisting African communities only a problem now that South Africa is in a GNU? Please find attached evidence of South Africa’s sterling relationship with the global fund and the work the IDT has achieved particularly in growing the public fund from only 2 billion rand to 8 billion rand. We beseech you to look into the minister’s conduct” the NGO said.

In response to the corruption allegations, the Department of Health said the decision to have hospitals manufacturing their own supply of oxygen stems from the days of Covid-19, with some hospitals faced oxygen shortage.

During that time, the department decided to hand the IDT with managing the procurement procedures and contracts.

Departmental spokesperson Sello Lediga, said the department noted the media reports of the alleged corruption, and that health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has been in contact with Macpherson, whose department oversees the IDT.

Lesiga said the IDT reports to Macpherson, then Motsoaledi asked him to lead the investigations.

“Unfortunately it looks like in the exchange between the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure and IDT, there was a lot of back and forth to an extent that it looked like the matter would end up in court,” Lediga added.

Lediga said Motsoaledi grew concerned as the project is funded by the Global Fund and not government, the Global Fund is a Geneva-based international health funder, established to fund HIV, AIDS and STIs, TB and Malaria.

He said the department receives R18 billion annually from the Global Fund, which has been instrumental in funding the oxygen supply.

“We now wish to state very clearly that this course of action is taken out of pragmatism because whatever the final outcome, the Department of Health and the people of South Africa will be the ultimate losers. This is because the funding from Global Fund is time-bound and is designed to end in November 2025.”

Asked that since the funder is the Global Fund, which gives the Department of Health about R16 billion a year, why are there concerns now when the GF has been funding South Africa so long? Minister Macpherson’s spokesperson James de Villiers responded: “There are concerns beyond the Global Fund.”

Asked if the minister knew of any corruption at IDT, or was he simply responding to media articles without real evidence, de Villiers responded: “The Minister and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi jointly decided that the contract should be cancelled because two of the companies lacked SAPHRA registration at the time of being awarded the tender, and the cost of the tender more than doubled—from roughly R200 million to over R800 million.

This is why the Minister requested an independent investigation to verify if any corrupt activities occurred and to ensure that anyone involved is held accountable. If there is nothing to hide, an independent investigation should be welcomed as it will clear the entity involved.”

The Star

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