Why does it need to be expanded?
The initial proclamation was in April 2016, for us to investigate Sedibeng Water as a DWS implementing agency. The one we requested now is from January 2015, because we found there was a phase 1 where the DWS had also put Lepelle Northern Water as an implementing agency, and that was not covered by our investigation.
Why did you think Lepelle Water needed to be investigated?
When we were interviewing people we started seeing linkages to Lepelle Water.
How long ago was that?
About four months.
Why did it take so long to find that Lepelle was involved in corruption?
This is not what our initial focus was. When we started interviewing, we realised there was something missing.
Like the Drop the Block project?
Yes, we are investigating the Drop the Block ...
... a plastic block to put in the cistern to save water?
Yes, they were supposed to buy about a million of them.
How much did Lepelle and Sedibeng invoice the DWS for these plastic blocks?
It was in the millions.
And you’ll be investigating the War on Leaks project too?
Yes, we’re also investigating War on Leaks ...
And how the cost of that project rose from R2.2bn to R7.4bn?
We will look at that, at the companies involved and whether the work was done.
How long have you been investigating Blackhead Consulting’s involvement in the Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant project?
Since the proclamation for that was granted in 2024.
Why so late in the day? Rooiwal goes back years, doesn’t it?
When we get allegations we then assess them, then there’s a long process before the proclamation.
Rooiwal was such a debacle that 29 people died of cholera. Why hasn’t Blackhead been blacklisted?
That’s a question for Tshwane metro. They have to write to National Treasury, which is in control of the blacklisting process.
Didn’t you refer the companies involved to DWS?
We give feedback to the DWS minister, but the handling institution is Tshwane metro.
So DWS has nothing to do with Blackhead not being blacklisted?
Maybe they do, I don’t want to put my head on the block. Obviously the DWS oversee all the water and sanitation issues in the country, so they might have something to do with the process.
Can’t you approach National Treasury to get a company blacklisted?
No. We can only recommend that companies be blacklisted. We give our own reasons and the evidence we have so that they can do the administrative process.
Blackhead’s been fingered by the SIU in irregular contracts worth more than R4bn, hasn’t it?
I can’t confirm that figure, but it’s been fingered in a number of our investigations, so it may be correct.
And it’s still doing business with the government?
It hasn’t been blacklisted so it’s possible. We made recommendations for those companies to be blacklisted. The presidency is now tasked with the responsibility of monitoring all the recommendations of the SIU to see if they’re being implemented. Because we said we do all of this work, we send recommendations, and institutions just ignore them.
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