Govt to clamp down on bogus engineers
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Molefhi (left) with Permanent Secretary Dikagiso Mokotedi at the press briefing. PIC: TSELE TSEBETSAME
The Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Nonofo Molefhi warned at a press conference on Monday that the board would take action against any engineer who operates without a practicing certificate. Concerned about the constant costs overruns, late delivery and poor quality of public infrastructure projects, government decided to come up with a number of legal instruments, which are meant to regulate the construction industry.
These include the Engineers Registration Act, Architects Registration Act, and the Quantity Surveyors Registration Act. The government also approved the formation of the Contractors Registration Board and the Construction Industry Board.
When claims of such gravity are made, especially by a sitting Assistant Minister they cannot be brushed aside, delayed, or treated as routine political noise. Even the Ombudsman has confirmed receipt of a report from a political party and a review of these complaints is now underway. That is a necessary first step. But it is only the beginning. The seriousness of the allegations demands urgency, transparency and clarity. The public is entitled to...