EFF MP Mazwi Blose on Wednesday asked parliament to verify eThekwini municipality’s claim that it has built up a fleet of about 250 municipal-owned water tankers to reduce its reliance on private contractors.

Blose, who hails from eThekwini, raised the issue during a joint Scopa and Cogta committee hearing, where the municipality was represented by mayor Cyril Xaba, city manager Musa Mbhele and chief financial officer Dr Sandile Mnguni, among others.

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Cogta committee chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize represented his committee at the meeting.

Blose, who is a member of the Scopa committee, pressed the matter after Mnguni told MPs during a presentation that the metro had reduced its use of hired water tankers after the Auditor-General flagged concerns over related tenders, and had instead acquired its own tankers to supply water to affected communities.

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The Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) have launched a R300 million construction fund aimed at developing the construction sector and supporting emerging contractors.

The fund, which operates under the CIDB’s B.U.I.L.D Programme, is expected to assist qualifying construction micro, small and medium enterprises, particularly emerging CIDB-registered contractors struggling to access finance and growth opportunities.

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The launch was held in Modderfontein, Johannesburg, on Tuesday.

Speaking at the launch, Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams said many capable businesses continued to face challenges linked to limited funding, compliance requirements and a lack of technical support.

“The R300 million Construction Fund is not simply about financing projects, it is about advancing economic justice,” she said.

Ndabeni-Abrahams added that the initiative seeks to unlock opportunities for emerging contractors while helping build a more

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