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The IFP in the KZN Legislature, as the Official Opposition, calls upon the KZN Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, to provide an update on the progress—if any—of the New Jersey Barrier Project in Manguzi, Jozini.

While we welcomed the project as a measure to deter and prevent cross-border criminal activity, we still await the outcome of a 2021 SIU investigation into the project.

The investigation by the SIU looked into the New Jersey Project after many red flags were raised about irregularities and incomplete work. The border wall, which covers approximately 25 km of our vulnerable border line with Mozambique, was initiated by the KwaZulu-Natal government in 2018. 

The project, which was mainly conceived to prevent the easy egress of stolen vehicles and livestock, was to be implemented in three phases.

Premier Dube-Ncube has kept the public in the dark about this matter, and therefore, the IFP demands that the Premier make the findings of the SIU investigation public and that strong action be taken against those involved in the R85 million New Jersey Barrier Wall project.

The New Jersey Project, awarded to a joint venture between ISF Construction and Shula Construction in August 2018, has seen little progress on-site to date, while funds have gone missing.

Premier Dube-Ncube, together with the KZN MEC for Transport, Sipho Hlomuka, must provide clarity on this project, which has been clouded in secrecy.

This project is yet another failure with an investigative report attached, which the Premier can add to her track record and a reputation for hiding forensic investigation reports. 

Issued by IFP Leader of the Official Opposition in the KZN Legislature Blessed Gwala