Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has addressed corruption allegations made against him following a graft case opened by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in connection with the Independent Development Trust (IDT). The EFF claims that Macpherson misused state institutions to favor what it describes as white minority capital.
The accusations stem from an email Macpherson allegedly sent in December to the IDT’s programme manager, urging payment to the construction company Lonerock. Macpherson’s spokesperson, James de Villiers, explained that the minister only intervened after the IDT failed to pay Lonerock for services rendered.
De Villiers emphasized that Macpherson has a duty to ensure adherence to government policies, including the mandate that businesses be paid within 30 days. The IDT, however, had missed this deadline. According to de Villiers, Rudi Dicks, the IDT project manager, informed the minister about the missed payments, totaling R19 million, including interest, back in October.
"The IDT missed every opportunity to pay Lonerock despite repeated promises since July 2024. The minister responded to the email thread he was copied into on December 9, 2024, expressing frustration that he was dragged into the issue due to the IDT's failure to pay an overdue invoice for 20 months," de Villiers said.
Additionally, Macpherson requested an urgent report on the IDT’s failure to meet its deadlines and commitments, which was never provided, despite the inclusion of senior IDT officials in the email chain.