The Department of Public Works did not get enough money in this year’s Budget to carry out all its appointed tasks, including tackling a maintenance backlog at government buildings, says Minister of Public Works Stella Sigcau.
She told MPs on Thursday her department is ”developing a comprehensive maintenance plan so that we can make more convincing and credible arguments for increased funding for maintenance in the forthcoming fiscal year”.
In February this year, her department was allocated more than R4,8-billion. At the time, it was forecast to receive R5,1-billion in 2005/06 and R5,5-billion in 2006/07.
Referring to the current allocation, Sigcau said while this ”represents a 10% increase compared to the previous year [2003/04], it is still not sufficient to meet all the needs which we face, particularly the backlog of maintenance on government buildings”.
Introducing debate on her budget vote in an extended public committee of the National Assembly, she said a total of 959 capital works projects are at various planning stages for the current financial year.
”Correctional Services is leading the pack with 386 contracts, estimated at R2,8-billion. They are followed by the South African Police Service with 250 contracts, estimated at R736-million; and Justice, with 169 contracts estimated at R461-million.”
Of nearly 1 000 public works projects around the country, 168 are in the Western Cape. The breakdown for the other provinces is North West — 162; KwaZulu-Natal — 152; Gauteng — 132; Eastern Cape — 107; Mpumalanga — 83; Free State — 81; Northern Cape — 50; and Limpopo — 24.
”Provision of physical accommodation to government and its departments” remains a key function of her department, the minister added. ”Major projects in progress include the R108-million upgrading of the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Office.”
There is also the construction of two magistrate’s courts in Gauteng — one costing R50-million in Randburg and another costing R43-million in Tembisa.
Other projects involve the upgrading and maintenance of prisons in Klerksdorp (North West) and Cullinan (Gauteng), at a cost of R90-million and R70-million respectively.
Over the past financial year, her department has given the Department of Foreign Affairs R115-million for a Chancery in Berlin, and R76-million for a new Chancery in Kinshasa.
”Seventeen new properties were acquired and registered at the deeds office, at a total cost of R16,77-million. The majority of these properties were for the purposes of accommodating [the] South African Police Service, as well as the National Directorate of Special Operations [the Scorpions].”
Sigcau said her department had sold 121 properties last year ”with an estimated value of R45-million” for purposes of land reform, low-cost housing, municipal infrastructure, government-to-government transfers and commercial gain. — Sapa