Macpherson Welcomes New IDT Leadership to Drive Governance, Delivery Reforms

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), Dean Macpherson, has welcomed the election of Zimbini Hill as Chairperson and Professor Raymond Nkado as Deputy Chairperson of the Independent Development Trust (IDT), praising the leadership duo for their pivotal role in initiating a turnaround of the embattled infrastructure agency.

Their election took place during the inaugural sitting of the newly appointed IDT board, marking a renewed commitment to reforming the state-owned entity into a dynamic vehicle for social infrastructure delivery and job creation in South Africa.

A Critical Juncture for the IDT

The Independent Development Trust, established in 1990, has long been tasked with implementing and managing social infrastructure projects—such as schools, clinics, and community centres—on behalf of various government departments. However, in recent years, the entity has come under intense scrutiny for governance failures, inefficiency, and an erosion of public trust.

Minister Macpherson underscored that the new leadership arrives at a defining moment in the IDT’s history.

“Their leadership during a difficult period for the IDT has been critical to the turnaround of the entity,” said Macpherson. “Their renewed mandate is a clear endorsement of the work they have started to clean up governance at the agency, improve infrastructure delivery, and restore public confidence.”

Experience and Continuity at the Helm

Both Hill and Nkado previously served on the IDT board, and their reelection ensures institutional continuity in a period of ongoing reform. Hill brings decades of experience in corporate governance, strategic management, and public service delivery, while Nkado is a well-respected academic and infrastructure specialist with a background in engineering, project management, and higher education leadership.

Their ongoing presence on the board is expected to help maintain momentum in ongoing reform efforts, including:

• The revamp of internal governance structures

• The acceleration of stalled infrastructure projects

• The realignment of the IDT’s development mandate with national priorities

Repositioning the IDT for Growth and Impact

Minister Macpherson reiterated that the IDT is a central conduit for social infrastructure development, especially in under-resourced and rural areas. He positioned the agency as a strategic lever in South Africa’s plan to become a "construction site"—a reference to the government’s broader infrastructure-led recovery strategy aimed at stimulating the economy, reducing unemployment, and addressing service delivery backlogs.

“The IDT has a critical role to play in turning South Africa into a construction site,” Macpherson stated. “The appointment of a credible and capable board is central to that mission.”

The Minister emphasized the importance of building a responsive public infrastructure delivery mechanism that fosters local economic development while ensuring that public funds are spent responsibly and transparently.

A Renewed Focus on Service Delivery and Job Creation

The IDT, under its new leadership, is expected to align closely with DPWI’s strategic priorities, including:

• Delivering public sector infrastructure on time and within budget

• Creating jobs through labour-intensive construction models

• Empowering small and emerging contractors, particularly in townships and rural areas

• Enhancing procurement transparency and efficiency

As part of its reform journey, the IDT will also work to rebuild relationships with client departments, improve internal performance monitoring, and leverage partnerships with the private sector and academia to boost project outcomes.

A Vision for a Capable, Clean State

Macpherson's vision of a “clean, capable, and delivery-oriented” IDT echoes broader national efforts to rebuild public trust in state institutions, many of which have been tainted by corruption and mismanagement. The appointment of Hill and Nkado signals a commitment to ensuring that merit, integrity, and accountability define leadership in public entities.

“By working together, we are building a better South Africa,” the Minister concluded.

The reconstituted board, under Hill’s stewardship, is now tasked with translating this vision into action—ensuring that infrastructure becomes not just a structure of bricks and mortar, but a foundation for human dignity, development, and economic inclusion.