Parliament erupted in heated debate on Tuesday as Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala faced a blistering interrogation over R1.7 billion in unaccounted departmental funds, with opposition MPs accusing his leadership of either negligence or complicity in what some called “daylight robbery.”
The scandal came to light after the Auditor-General’s report revealed massive irregular expenditure, triggering a rare show of unity among opposition parties in demanding answers.
Key exchanges from the tense session:
DA’s Samantha Graham-Maré: “This isn’t about lost paperwork – it’s about R1.7 billion that should be building roads and houses vanishing without explanation.”
EFF’s Omphile Maotwe: “Either you’re incompetent or complicit. Either way, South Africans are being robbed.”
IFP’s Sanele Zondo: “Your ‘internal investigations’ are meaningless unless we see arrests.”
Minister Zikalala acknowledged systemic failures but offered few specifics:
• Confirmed breakdown in financial controls
• Promised “consequences” for those responsible
• Cited ongoing collaboration with auditors
Political analyst Thandiwe Mbeki noted: “The scale of this disappearance – equivalent to building 17,000 RDP houses – makes this more than routine corruption. It’s a crisis of governance.”
What’s next:
Parliamentary committee demands full forensic report within 14 days
Public Protector considering parallel investigation
ANC backbenchers privately express frustration, signaling potential internal fallout
As public outrage grows, the minister faces mounting pressure to either:
Produce credible evidence of recovery efforts
Resign if unable to account for the funds
The scandal threatens to overshadow President Ramaphosa’s anti-corruption pledges, with opposition parties already calling for a special debate on what some term “the billion-rand heist.”