Public Works spends another R39.7 million on upgrades to Ministerial homes
22 September 2014
A reply to a DA Parliamentary question today has revealed that Public Works has approved another R39.7 million in upgrades to Ministerial mansions in Cape Town and Pretoria for the 2014/2015 financial year.
The upgrades are part of Public Works' ‘Prestige Programme' to provide Ministers with luxurious homes in Cape Town and Pretoria.
The 39.7 million budgeted for this year will be spread over 26 different homes, with R10 million being spent on ministerial homes in Cape Town and R29.7 million being spent on homes in Pretoria.
Public Works refuses to disclose any details about the locations of the homes, the relevant Ministers and the details of the upgrades, having cited ‘security concerns' in the past.
This R39.7 million is in addition to the tens of millions the Department has already spent since 2009 on upgrading Ministerial homes. The SIU is currently investigating the R27.6 million upgrade of 7 homes in Pretoria and upgrades totalling an unknown amount to 17 homes in Cape Town.
This reply is cause for serious concern.
The Minister blatantly refuses to disclose what the total cost has been for the ‘Prestige Programme' since its inception in 2008. We will resubmit the question to get this information.
The R39.7 million that is going to be spent on Ministerial homes for 2014/2015 is a disgusting display of greed by cabinet.
I will write to the SIU to suggest that these upgrades also be put under the microscope.
Ministers are living it up in the lap of luxury, whilst ordinary South Africans struggle to get along. In the meantime, we are placated with promises of ‘belt-tightening' and ‘getting back to basics'.
We need to permanently end the culture of bling in cabinet and get down to the business of responsible and effective governance.
Text of the parliamentary reply:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NUMBER: 787 [NW874E]
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: No. 6 of 2014
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25 JULY 2014
DATE OF REPLY: 19 SEPTEMBER 2014
Mr K S Mubu (DA) asked the Minister of Public Works:
With reference to his reply to question 162 on 4 July 2014, and without revealing any names, addresses and locations, (a) what was the annual cost of maintenance and/or renovations undertaken for each official housing unit provided to Cabinet members during the period 1 April 2009 up to the latest date for which information is available and (b) what are the details of the planned maintenance and/or renovations for the 2014-15 financial year with regard to (i) description, (ii) budgeted costs and (iii) reasons for such maintenance and/or renovations? NW874E
______________________________________________________________________
REPLY:
The Minister of Public Works
(a) In respect of this question, the Honourable Member should note that the Department of Public Works (DPW) initiated an investigation, which was undertaken and is currently still being undertaken by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into maladministration, tender irregularities, price inflation and other irregularities in respect of certain State-owned houses in the Prestige Portfolio located in both Pretoria and Cape Town.
In Pretoria 7 houses were investigated for the period in question. The reasons for the investigation were tender irregularities in the appointment of consultants, inflation of bills of quantities and non-delivery corresponding to payment claims by contractors in terms of bills of quantities. The cost of the renovations and/or planned maintenance of these properties amounted to R27 674 924.96. The DPW Director of Prestige in the Pretoria Regional Office was charged and found guilty and charges have been laid against others involved in maladministration.
In Cape Town 17 houses are under investigation by the SIU in terms of proclamation 54/2014 gazetted on the 01 August 2014 (GG No. 10243). The investigation covers the period from 2008 up to the date of the gazette. The reasons for the investigation are possible tender irregularities in the appointment of service providers, inflation of bills of quantities and non-delivery relating to payment claims by contractors in terms of the bills of quantities. The investigation is currently underway.
(b) The details of the planned maintenance and/or renovations for the 2014-15 financial year with regard to (i) description, (ii) budgeted costs and (iii) reasons for such maintenance and/or renovations are as follows:-
|
ITEM |
(i) DESCRIPTION |
(ii) BUDGETED COST |
(iii) REASONS FOR MAINTANANCE/ RENOVATIONS |
||
|
PRETORIA AND CAPE TOWN |
|||||
|
1 |
Refurbishment |
R3,370,849.00 |
Due for refurbishment |
||
|
2 |
Refurbishment |
R949,351.00 |
Burnt house - refurbishment required |
||
|
3 |
Refurbishment |
R15,334,525.00 |
Due for refurbishment |
||
|
4 |
Refurbishment |
R3,139,982.00 |
Due for refurbishment |
||
|
5 |
Security measures |
R780,000.00 |
No security measures |
||
|
6 |
Refurbishment |
R280,848.00 |
Due for refurbishment |
||
|
7 |
Refurbishment |
R922,941.00 |
Structural defects |
||
|
8 |
Painting, paving, repair electrical installations & other minor works |
R309,846.00 |
Minor works to make the house habitable |
||
|
9 |
Refurbishment |
R1,027,073.00 |
Due for upgrade |
||
|
10 |
Refurbishment |
R1,255,000.00 |
Due for upgrade |
||
|
11 |
Refurbishment |
R676,257.00 |
No guard house |
||
|
12 |
Refurbishment |
R592,567.00 |
Due for refurbishment |
||
|
13 |
Refurbishment |
R497,000.00 |
Due for refurbishment |
||
|
14 |
Refurbishment |
R583,000.00 |
Due for refurbishmen |
||
|
15 |
Repair roof covering, external painting and replacement of carpets |
R500,000.00 |
Leaking roof needs urgent attention |
||
|
16 |
Kitchen and bathroom upgrade. Roof and floor coverings |
R1,615,861.00 |
Leaking roof needs urgent attention and refurbishment of bathrooms |
||
|
17 |
Refurbishment of kitchen, bathrooms, electricity and roof |
R1,413,173.00 |
Leaking roof needs maintenance and refurbishment of bathrooms |
||
|
18 |
Upgrading of entrance foyer, all bathrooms, kitchen and painting |
R3,197,756.00 |
Complex has not been repaired over 20 years and the fabric, old sewer pipes and drainage need attention |
||
|
19 |
Security upgrade: Boundary wall, electric fence, cameras and guard house |
R448,000.00 |
No Security measures |
||
|
20 |
Upgrade of kitchen, bathrooms, electricity and roof |
R277,500.00 |
Roof, kitchen and bathrooms need attention |
||
|
21 |
Repair roof covering, external painting and replacing carpets |
R500,000.00 |
Leaking roof needs attention |
||
|
22 |
Upgrade of kitchen, bathrooms, electricity and roof |
R330,000.00 |
Old house which needs repairs and an upgrade |
||
|
23 |
Kitchen and bathroom replacement, upgrade of paving surrounding the house |
R486,541.00 |
Old house needs repairs and an upgrade |
||
|
24 |
Security upgrade: Boundary wall, electric fence, Cameras and guard house |
R448,000.00 |
No Security measures |
||
|
25 |
Upgrade of kitchen, bathrooms and internal painting |
R330,000.00 |
Old kitchen and bathroom require upgrade |
||
|
26 |
Security upgrade: Boundary wall, electric fence, cameras and guard house |
R448,000.00 |
No Security measure |
||
|
Total |
R39,714,070.00 |
||||
Therefore the budgeted amount for maintenance/renovations of the Prestige portfolio for the 2014/2015 financial year is: R39,714,070.00
Pretoria= R29,719,239.00
Cape Town = R9,994,831.00
END
Statement issued by Kenneth Mubu MP, DA Shadow Minister of Public Works, September 22 2014
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