KZN Public Works budget to highlight infrastructure and job creation

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19-05-2026
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IOL
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KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) MEC Martin Meyer is set to deliver his 2025/26 budget speech in July, highlighting a core direct budget of R2.4 billion. 

A focus of the budget will be a concerted drive to reduce the nearly billion-rand expenditure on leases by refurbishing and utilising the department’s own buildings, focusing on projects such as the Esplanade Government Building (EGB) refurbishment. 

“We spend close to a billion on leases. We are on a drive to refurbish our own buildings and then stop the leases. The EGB is a good example of this. We are working closely with education as an example to do this,” Meyer said. 

In his previous budget, Meyer had said that the building had been in a state of abandonment and decay for decades because of neglect, which forced government staff to relocate. The building cost the department millions of rands in utilities, whilst laying bear with minimum use. 

The plan, is for the EGB to accommodate various provincial government departments with the long term aim to reduce dependency on hiring office accommodation from the private sector; accommodate businesses and amenities; provide eco-friendly and heat-resilient designs with heat dissipation features; modern green energy designs, and solar energy conducive; and embraces technological features which will aid in its safety and functionality.

Meyer will detail how the budget supports job creation through a renewed Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) approach. 

“Our new approach in EPWP is one way the budget will work towards jobs. Ensuring artisans to do basic maintenance is also a priority. We also focus on infrastructure investment, bringing in the private sector, which will see the employment numbers continue to grow in this sector,” Meyer said. 

In recent weeks, DPWI launched the Working on Infrastructure pilot project. This initiative digitises recruitment, offers vital skills, and aims to transition young people into meaningful employment or entrepreneurship, simultaneously curbing EPWP corruption and creating permanent job pathways.

DPWI tours revealed widespread abuse, including political favouritism, demands for bribes or sex for jobs, and ghost beneficiaries, often facilitated by ward councillors controlling beneficiary lists.

The department said sweeping reforms are necessary, prioritising robust digital systems over human control. Consequently, the DPWI is modernising the programme with digital systems, better verification, and real-time oversight to minimise abuse by corrupt officials.

Meyer’s speech is also expected to reinforce the message that “KZN is stable and open for business”.

“The private sector can and should partner with us, as we are a new department, we successfully tackled disruptions, we have brought our expenditure under control, and we have made huge strides against corruption. The money we now get, we spend on our core mandate and nothing else,” Meyer said. 

The MEC is also poised to announce continued investment in digitisation plans in his budget.

“Quite a few of our digitisation plans have gone live, like e-gov, so all our forms are digital now, and e-leave. We have but a sizable amount aside from this budget again,” Meyer said. 

“On printing alone, we are seeing savings in the millions.” 

Meyer’s budget last year announced DPWI’s move to total digitisation to save up to R4 million in printing and transportation costs by eliminating paper documents. 

Digitalisation will cost the department an estimated R3m over three years compared to the R4m spent on printing. 

“Our direct budget is R2.4 billion, but we deal with a lot more,” Meyer said. 

thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za