The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands that MEC for Infrastructure Development, Jacob Mamabolo, prioritise fixing the vacant buildings owned by the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG). By fixing these vacant office buildings, this government will save R34 million on monthly rentals.
MEC Mamabolo has indicated that the government does not have money and needs a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to fix the abandoned buildings and revitalise the Johannesburg Central Business District (JHB CBD). The same was said in 2022 when the initial tender of R59 billion for the Kopanong Precinct, which was meant to fix these vacant office buildings, failed the audit process.
Since 2022, there has been no progress report. We demand that Mamabolo provide timelines and progress reports on the engagement with the private sector. Furthermore, Premier Panyaza Lesufi has been boasting about luring investors and the PPP, yet there is nothing to show. Should he have been committed and walked the talk, these offices would have been a priority, and the progress would have been underway. This is one of many failures by the Lesufi’s government, wasting money instead of devising ways to spend wisely.
The DA has tabled written questions to MEC Mamabolo to ascertain how much has been spent on rates and taxes for the abandoned buildings and the cost of security to safeguard the buildings. Moreover, we are drafting a motion to be submitted to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to force this government to fix these abandoned offices.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would prioritise refurbishment and maintenance of government-owned office buildings instead of spending money on rentals. This does not need to happen all at once but can be staggered, lowering the cost of office rentals. We will end the cycle of neglect, eliminate wasteful rental expenditure, and restore accountability on public assets.