Democratic Alliance of South Africa, deputy shadow minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Samantha Graham Mare has blasted the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Patricia de Lille for constructing a 40 kilometer border fence costing almost R1 million per kilometer yet it looks like ‘a washing line’.

Graham claims that the department of Public Works and Infrastructure is incompetent and has wasted a lot of tax payers money constructing a fence that couldn’t last.

“South African tax payers have forked out a whopping R37 million for what is effectively a washing line to keep COVID-19 from reaching South Africa from Zimbabwe,” she said.

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Patricia de Lille claimed that the 40 kilometer border fence totaled to R37 million, but within weeks of it’s erection, pictures of gaping holes in the new fence emerged and there are even reports of the fence being stolen.

De Lille suggested that there would be increased security around the fence to ensure that there won’t be any more breaches.

The Democratic Alliance deputy Shadow Minister blasted such an arrangement arguing that it makes no sense to construct a security fence that will require security to look after it.

‘What sort of border fence did we procure that required it’s own security? What quality of material was used that it can barely withstand a wire cutter and who drafted the specifications for this fence,” she said.

Democratic alliance also argue that the border fence which costs R37 million was supposed to be impenetrable and built to last, but unfortunately it did not.

“Sadly, Minister De Lille’s fence is a R37 million band-aid on a bullet wound. If we are going to protect our borders, we need a snake of fire, not a washing line costing almost R1 million per kilometer,” they said.

Graham says she has submitted questions to minister De Lille around the appointment of the contractor , as well as around the specifications of the fence and the value that the tax payers have received.