Question NW2396 to the Minister of Public Works

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08 October 2018 - NW2396

Profile picture: Groenewald, Dr PJ

Groenewald, Dr PJ to ask the Minister of Public Works

(1) With reference to the identification of R7,4 billion worth of unutilised properties for disposal or letting referred to in his department’s Budget Vote speech delivered on 15 May 2018, based on what criteria does his department decide whether unutilised properties are categorised for permanent disposal and letting; (2) (a) what number of properties have been identified for (i) permanent disposal and (ii) letting in (aa) urban and (bb) rural areas and (b) what number of properties are suitable for agricultural purposes; (3) can the specified properties be made available for land reform; if not, why not; (4) (a) when will his department’s property audit be completed and (b) will the results be made public; if not, why not; (5) whether he will make a statement on the matter? NW2643E _______________________________________________________________________________

Reply:

(1) In Line With the Government Immovable Asset Management Act, 2007 (Act No. 19 of 2007), the Department of Public Works consults the User Asset Management Plan (U-AMP), as well as the Custodian Asset Management Plan (C-AMP), which are both long-term accommodation needs documents; to determine whether there is a need for the utilisation of vacant land/properties by user Departments. In addition, the Department consults the client departments directly in order to establish their willingness and intentions to utilise identified vacant properties. All properties that are not required by user departments are categorised as surplus properties and are then set aside for letting out for revenue generation purposes or disposal for the purpose of human settlements or land reform.

(2) (a) (i) 75 and 77 number of properties have been identified for disposal in relation to land reform and human settlements respectively based on the requests received.

(ii) 2973 properties have been identified for letting out.

(aa) Of the Two 2973 properties identified for letting out, an approximately 600 are located in urban areas and;

(bb) approximately 2000 properties are located in the rural areas.

(b) 3659 properties can potentially be subjected to a viability study by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. (DRDLR) - a compact disk carrying this information is available upon request.

(3) The properties to be released for human settlements and land reform are identified by the requesting Departments of Human Settlements (including Provincial Government, Municipalities and the Housing Development Agency, as well as the Regional Land Claims Commissions through the line Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. The Department of Public Works only facilitates the disposals once requests are received with all supporting documentation from the above-mentioned State organs.

(4) (a) The physical assessment of properties is conducted in phases with a set number verified each year over the 5-year cycle due to the magnitude and complexity of the DPW property portfolio in line with Section 13 (d) of the Government Immovable Asset Management Act (GIAMA) of 2007 and PMTE Immovable Asset Management Policy.

(b) The information on the immovable asset register as per point 4 (a) above including notes to the Annual Financial Statements pertaining to various categories of immovable assets is published in the Annual Report of the Department.

(5) No, the Department of Public Works shall share information with the public as and when the need arises.

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