Dean Macpherson Declares War on Public Works Corruption with Sweeping Reforms

From ghost workers to shady contractors, the Public Works Minister launches an aggressive campaign to restore integrity.

South Africa’s new Minister of Public Works, Dean Macpherson, has wasted no time rolling up his sleeves and taking aim at the rot within his department.

In a country where government corruption is often discussed with weary resignation, Macpherson’s firm stance and rapid action are beginning to raise eyebrows and hopes.

Cracking down on the ghosts in the machine

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Macpherson confirmed that over 400 high-risk officials are under the microscope as part of lifestyle audits, a move triggered by widespread concern over “ghost employees” on the department’s payroll.

The minister said 48 senior managers had already been audited, with verification teams physically confirming the existence of employees to root out fictitious entries in the Persal payroll system.

“Our anti-corruption unit is auditing every corner of the system, including the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP),” he said. “If you don’t exist, you won’t get paid.”

The initiative, done in collaboration with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), goes beyond audits. It includes asset verification to identify officials living well beyond their official earnings—one of the oldest red flags in corruption probes.

Contractors under scrutiny too

It’s not just the internal staff feeling the heat. Macpherson is also turning up the pressure on contractors who take government money and fail to deliver.

Through the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), 40 non-performing contractors are now on the chopping block, with 15 already delisted in June. For context, only one contractor had been delisted in the past two decades.

“This marks a turning point,” Macpherson said. “We will no longer tolerate contractors who defraud the public purse while hiding behind bureaucracy.”

To strengthen regulatory powers and enhance accountability in the built environment sector, Macpherson is preparing to introduce a revised Council for the Built Environment Bill.

A new chapter for troubled public entities

Macpherson’s reformist vision extends to public entities, where long-standing dysfunction has been the norm rather than the exception.

He highlighted the Independent Development Trust (IDT) an entity plagued by instability as a key example. “We’ve appointed a new board. They’re stepping in to rebuild the institution’s credibility and take up their full mandate.”

He also noted that measures are in place to protect construction sites from disruption, ensuring that critical infrastructure projects aren’t derailed by extortion, intimidation, or politically connected gatekeeping.

A culture shift in public service?

Macpherson’s campaign is already being seen as one of the most aggressive clean-up efforts in the history of the Department of Public Works. While previous administrations have promised change, few have followed through with the same immediacy or scale.

On social media, reaction has been cautiously optimistic. One X (formerly Twitter) user posted, “If Macpherson pulls this off, he deserves a standing ovation. Ghost workers and shady EPWP jobs have been bleeding us dry for years.” Another wrote, “We’ve heard promises before. Let’s see if heads roll this time.”

What’s next?

With more audits on the way, and the CIDB continuing to investigate contractors, Macpherson has made it clear that this is just the beginning.

“I am not interested in maintaining the status quo,” he said firmly. “We’re building a culture of accountability—one audit, one prosecution, one reform at a time.”

In a nation battling deep-rooted public sector corruption, the real question now is whether Macpherson’s bold start will translate into long-term systemic change or if this too will become just another flash of good intentions lost in the fog of bureaucracy.

For now, though, it seems the ghosts are finally being hunted.

{Source: IOL}

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