Latest news with #MartinMeyer
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Specialised TB wing at King Dinizulu Hospital on track after stalling in 2011
A specialist tuberculosis wing at Durban's King Dinizulu Hospital which stalled in 2011 because of financial setbacks is back on track and expected to treat patients in May 2026. The R154m outpatient wing will be the first facility dedicated to treat patients with multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR) in KZN. Inspecting the project on Thursday, public works and infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer revealed that the project had stalled since 2011 but was revived in June last year as part of the department's push to unblock stalled projects and improve infrastructure delivery. 'The previous contractor in the TB wing went insolvent in 2011 and due to severe monetary constraints that brings, the project could be revived only last year,' he said. 'It's very unfortunate there had to be over a 10-year delay but I think it also shows how our department and the department of health are committed to unblocking these blocked projects and get them moving forward.' Dr Tumelo Mabesa said the hospital, which is the only facility to treat drug resistant TB, has taken space reserved for inpatients to treat TB outpatients, which limited its capacity. 'Even the pharmacy was using a space of the ward, so by taking that space means we are reducing the capacity of the wards. Once those services are moved to this new wing then those spaces will be freed and we will have an additional space. 'So in addition to the outpatients services for both MDR and XDR TB functionality, we will also be increasing the capacity of the hospital by 64 beds.' The project, however, has not been without challenges, mainly the disruption by locals demanding more community involvement at the beginning of the project in July last year. Meyer said they were limited by the specialised nature of the facility. 'It's a difficult project in that there's a lot of legislation and regulations and all those things that needs to be met which also means we can't have as many EPWP workers on site as we would like because it's such a technical job. It's very important that where we can give jobs to communities we do so, but in very technical jobs like this we also have to keep that in consideration,' he said. Contractor Mbuso Makhathini of Makhathini Projects said they tried to work with locals where they could. 'In the cases that we could, we have been engaging them as subcontractors, getting them involved, uplifting them in terms of their CIDB grading and assisting them on how to grow their businesses.' Meyer said those disruptions were quickly addressed when the department, the contractor and ward councillor met the community. There have been 23 job opportunities for locals so far in the project and the department said the number is going to increase. Meyer added that the long-standing challenge of the payment of contractors also hindered progress but they were working with the National Treasury and the health department of health to address it.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
KwaZulu-Natal to launch its first dedicated XDR-TB facility to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis
KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer, with brown pants in the centre, during the oversight visit to inspect the progress at the XDR-TB facility under construction inside the King Dinuzulu Hospital in Durban on Thursday. Image: Willem Phungula KwaZulu-Natal will have its first dedicated extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis facility (XDR-TB). This was revealed by Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer during his inspection of the construction site of the facility inside King Dinuzulu Hospital on Thursday morning. The MEC said the R154 million facility will be the first one dedicated to the disease, which is among the top killer diseases in the country. Meyer said the construction of the facility will free up a lot of space in the hospital, which it had to use to accommodate TB patients since it did not have a dedicated facility for them. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'I am happy that the province will have a dedicated XDR-TB facility, which will cater to more patients from all over. This is a fulfillment of my responsibility as the Public Works MEC to ensure that the public gets quality health care in our province by providing necessary facilities in our hospitals,' said the MEC. The facility is a referral for all hospitals in the province, and once completed, it will have all the necessary equipment to ensure quality treatment for TB patients. The hospital's Acting CEO, Tumelo Mabesa, said there was a great demand for the facility since the hospital is the only one in the province that can treat XDR-TB. He said that because of the growing number of XDR patients, he was forced to use the pharmacy space and other facilities to treat these patients.
IOL News
17-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
New Enyokeni Royal Precinct: A R140 million boost for tourism and job creation
The R140 million Enyokeni Royal Precinct building, which will house 2,000 guests, will be ready for use during this year's reed dance ceremony. The building is just outside Enyokeni Royal Palace. Image: Willem Phungula The construction of the R140 million Enyokeni Royal Precinct for the annual Reed Dance ceremony, which is presided over by the Zulu king, will boost Zululand tourism and create business and job opportunities. This was revealed by KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer and Sports, Arts and Culture MEC Mtomuhle Khawula, who conducted the last inspection of the project on Tuesday before Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli officially handed it over to King Misuzulu kaZwelithini before the Reed Dance ceremony in September. The MECs' oversight visit was part of the Reed Dance preparation, where more than 20,000 virgin maidens present reeds to the king as part of the celebration of keeping themselves pure. MEC Meyer, whose department is responsible for all Public Works projects in the province, said he was happy that the project will be finished on time to host this year's event, adding that the precinct would not only cater for the Reed Dance event but will be a draw card for tourism, which in turn, will create business and job opportunities. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'I hope to see B&Bs coming up in the area because of this iconic building. This will be a major draw card for international tourists who will come and visit eNyokeni Palace because of this building, which is our biggest project ever as the Government of Provincial Unity. We are also glad that this will generate income for the local communities,' said Meyer. Khawula mentioned that his department will save significantly on costs previously spent on marquees and toilets for dignitaries, as the venue will now provide catering and sanitation. The MEC said the venue would not only benefit the Reed Dance event, but also that performing arts and community events will be held there. 'I will meet the king soon to get all calendar events for this year, and I can see more traditional events being redirected to this place,' said Khawula. He added that the Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, Gayton McKenzie, will also come before the building is handed over to the king. The dome-design auditorium has a seating capacity of 2,000 people, a stage, changing rooms for artists, and ablution facilities.
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Public-private partnerships: KZN's strategy to save R24. 3 million annually
Left: EThekwini Municipality mayor Cyril Xaba, Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson and KZN Public Works MEC Martin Meyer signed a memorandum to repurpose hijacked or abandoned buildings after the KZN Build Better conference last year. Image: supplied The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works and Infrastructure says offloading close to 100 state owned land pieces and buildings for public private partnerships ,will save taxpayers R24.3 million in annual rates. On Friday the department advertised the vacant land pieces and other unused immovable properties, calling for interested parties to come forward with proposals on how to utilise these assets to the benefit of the public. In a statement on Monday, the department's MEC, Martin Meyer, said these are assets that have been identified as no longer having significant value to the department and as such have been sitting as dead weight on the department's asset registry. He said that the move to dispose of them was for the benefit of the greater public following resolutions taken during the Build KZN Betterconference on sustainable approaches regarding asset management last year. The disposed assets are worth over R120 million. 'To put this into context, the release of these assets will save KZN Public Works and Infrastructure an amount of R24,3 million in annual rates. As a landlord, the department pays large amounts of money in rates for all its properties, whether they are in use or sitting vacant. This is money that could be better utilised towards other priorities,' said the MEC. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Since being appointed last year under Government of Provincial Unity between his party, the DA, ANC and IFP, Meyer has been on a drive to find solutions to the unused state buildings particularly in eThekwini where many of them have been hijacked by criminal syndicates for drug peddling. As part of the solutions he proposed that all those buildings that the state no longer needs should be handed over to the local municipalities for low- cost housing and for private-public-partnerships. Last year, the department undertook an audit process to update its asset registry to better gauge which assets were used for what purpose and what was the usage status as unused assets continue to drain the department of significant amounts of money each year. 'This week the department will issue invitations for bidding for those wanting to make use of the assets to come forward and bid for them. However, in keeping with the department's mandate of serving, uplifting local communities and creating job opportunities, during the bidding process preference will be given to those whose goals align with this objective through the acquisition of these assets. "Institutions of higher education, those wanting to build schools and NGOs will get priority with the assets given to them either at free or at low-cost long term leases,' said Meyer.
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
KZN contractors face blacklisting for substandard, incomplete work
Martin Meyer, KZN MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure has said contractors who fail to complete projects or do substandard work will be blacklisted. Image: Doctor Ngcobo Independent Newspapers Delivering incomplete and substandard work is over, as such contractors are to be blacklisted by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal. At least seven contractors are currently at risk of being blacklisted, as revealed by MEC Martin Meyer yesterday. The move was welcomed by the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, which stated that the government will not tolerate poor service delivery. But contractors have said the government must be fair when holding them accountable for incomplete projects. MEC Meyer noted that substandard work by contractors has been very costly for the department, as it often has to be redone by different contractors. He made these remarks while addressing members of the media yesterday on various matters concerning the department, including the progress being made to ensure that contractors who have completed work for the government are paid on time. 'The issue of shoddy contractors continues to be a thorn for us, as KZN Public Works and Infrastructure. Contractors have become too comfortable delivering substandard work with full pay and zero consequences. This has created a legacy of undesirable projects, many of which end up costing more than they should because a new contractor has to be brought in to complete the job of the first contractor,' said the MEC. He said this pattern resulted in the department losing money and credibility. "The client loses trust in us, and the public loses faith that their hard-earned taxes are being used effectively. Well, those days are now officially over." 'Under the new KZN Public Works and Infrastructure policy, every contractor that delivers substandard quality work will face consequences, starting with blacklisting to ensure they don't return to do business with us. In this regard, seven contractors have been identified and will be blacklisted in adherence to the Public Finance Management Act,' he added. MEC Meyer explained that under the law, the department had afforded the entities the opportunity to provide submissions. He revealed that some entities had responded, and budget constraints and poor cash flow were among the reasons given for them being unable to complete the scope of works. Furthermore, he stated that his department is also working to address the issue of non-payment of contractors. 'Over the past few weeks, it has emerged that a number of contractors were negatively affected by non-payment. They had not been paid for work completed at various stages and amounts. The primary cause of this issue was that KZN Public Works had not received payment for several projects completed on behalf of client departments. "At various intervals or stages of construction, KZN Public Works and Infrastructure would receive payment from the client, which would then go towards paying the contractors. Therefore, when payment for a particular stage is not received from the client, we are unable to pay the contractor, resulting in the contractor walking off the site." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ He stated that their inter-departmental accounts balance as of 31 March 2025 was just over R800 million. The department successfully received payments totalling R300 million in May, reducing the balance to R500 million. The department concluded the financial year with R491 million in payments owed to service providers and municipalities that could not be released. Additional payments were captured during April and May 2025, increasing the amounts owed to service providers and municipalities to R543 million. The department successfully released payments totalling R374 million in May, reducing the amounts owed to service providers and municipalities to R169 million. 'This achievement means that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure will now be in a position to settle payments within the 30-day period as stipulated by the Treasury. This is a first for the department in a long time,' he said. Wonder Jaca, the secretary general of the Black Business Federation, said while the government should deal with contractors who fail to complete projects, it should also be aware that departments don't pay on time. 'The government must be fair; it must deal with negligent contractors not completing projects. But it should take into account that departments don't pay on time. There are departments that have not paid contractors since November last year. How can you hold people accountable for incomplete projects on the one hand while also not paying them to work on those projects?' he questioned. Chairperson of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee Nhlanhla Msimango said those contractors that were not performing must be dealt with. 'We cannot play with service delivery; when you have been given an opportunity, you must perform. What we will not accept is when business people are being ill-treated and are not paid on time. "That is why we appreciate the department's improvement in paying service providers because failing to pay them, especially the emerging contractors, affects their cash flow and damages their business.' THE MERCURY
