Work to restart at long-delayed KwaDukuza Home Affairs office
Construction of the KwaDukuza Home Affairs building is set to resume after months of delay, with the project reported to be about 60% complete. The Independent Development Trust (IDT) has been appointed to take over implementation, starting with technical assessments and confirmation of funding, according to local reports.
The decision follows an earlier suspension of work when the previous contractor encountered cash-flow and contract-management problems. The announcement that the project would recommence has prompted a sharp exchange between the ANC in the General Gizenga Mpanza Region and the DA, each claiming credit for the turnaround.
Political reactions and calls for accountability
Regional ANC co-ordinator Lucky Makhathini welcomed the development after a visit by Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala to the site. He said the ANC had repeatedly raised residents’ frustrations about the delays and urged an investigation into why the project failed and that "any contractors or officials found responsible" be held accountable. He told reporters the party would not tolerate communities being denied essential services because of "inefficiency, negligence or collusion between public officials and service providers."
“The ANC in the region will not stand by while communities are denied essential government services because of inefficiency, negligence or collusion between public officials and service providers.”
The DA criticised the ANC’s claims, saying the resumption was the result of co-operation between national ministers from the DA. KwaDukuza DA mayoral candidate Privi Makhan said the appointment of the IDT and the restart were "solely the result of two DA ministers working together to fix what the ANC broke," in remarks reported locally. She also disputed any suggestion that Deputy Minister Zikalala had authority to appoint the IDT.
The DA’s response underscores broader tensions over service delivery projects in KwaDukuza, where delays and incomplete buildings have been a recurring local concern. The party framed the intervention as corrective action at national level, while the ANC emphasised demands for investigations into the earlier contractor’s failures.
Municipal response and what comes next
KwaDukuza mayor Siduduzo Gumede welcomed the progress and described the IDT’s involvement as a "timely intervention." He said the municipality was pleased work would resume after the lengthy delay.
Under the reported arrangement, the IDT will begin with technical assessments and confirmation of funding before recommencing construction. No timetable for completion was provided in the reports, and there has been no public release of a revised project schedule or cost estimate.
- Project status: approximately 60% complete (reported).
- Current action: IDT to take over implementation, beginning with technical assessments and funding confirmation.
- Cause of delay: previous contractor experienced cash-flow and contract-management problems (reported).
The lack of a publicly available, detailed project plan or updated completion date leaves residents uncertain about when services will be accessible. Home Affairs facilities play a key role in issuing identity documents and passports, making delays especially inconvenient for those requiring these services.
Local implications
For KwaDukuza residents, the resumption of construction promises access to closer Home Affairs services, reducing the need to travel to neighbouring towns. However, the political dispute over credit and the ANC’s call for an investigation highlight ongoing concerns about transparency and contract management in municipal projects.
| Stakeholder | Position |
|---|---|
| Independent Development Trust (IDT) | To take over implementation; will conduct technical assessments and confirm funding |
| ANC (General Gizenga Mpanza Region) | Welcomed restart; called for investigation into project failure and accountability |
| DA (KwaDukuza) | Attributed restart to cooperation between DA national ministers; disputed ANC credit |
| KwaDukuza municipality | Mayor described intervention as timely and welcomed the resumption |
Residents seeking updates should monitor announcements from the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, and the KwaDukuza municipality for confirmed timelines and details about service availability once construction finishes.
Reporting in this article is based on local coverage of the project’s restart and the comments attributed to political representatives in that report.
