14/09/2026
Today KZN Public Works and Infrastructure holds Day 1 of its Strategic Planning session under the theme “Re-imagining KZN DPWI”. The event, in Durban, is a key gathering that allows the department to conduct an autopsy of its previously implemented strategy and reflect on where it fell short and where its strengths lie.
During his opening address, Head of Department Dr Vish Govender emphasized that organizations do not stumble across greatness; rather, achieved greatness follows a sound and consistently applied strategy. For the KZN Department of Public Works and Infrastructure this could not be more accurate, as backed by our first-ever Clean Audit finding.
Dr Govender further said a solid strategy creates alignment and allows leadership to clearly identify priorities, because good governance begins with every single decision which can be backed and agreed upon. This entails asking reflective questions such as ‘Does the decision represent value for money?’ or ‘How does it speak to sound governance?’ and ‘Does it assist long-term benefits?’
A key takeaway is that a sound strategy is based on 4 foundations: Purpose; People; Resources; and Performance.
If these are not met, then poorly maintained public assets become a strategic problem which calls for more expenditure to rectify. The same applies to procurement without strategic alignment.
It is also a day when the hard-working and dedicated officials of the KZN Public Works and Infrastructure family get to share their unique ideas on how we can better serve the people of this province and build KZN better, because it is through such diversity that we can merge uniqueness and find our collective strength.
