Question NW2236 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
06 January 2021 - NW2236
De Villiers, Mr JN to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)What (a) total number of ministerial houses does her department own for the use of Ministers and Deputy Ministers and (b) is the total number of the specified ministerial houses that are (i) currently still being used by former Ministers and/or Deputy Ministers who have not vacated the properties and (ii) what are the names of the specified former Ministers and/or Deputy Ministers who are still living in ministerial houses; (2) whether the specified former Ministers and/or Deputy Ministers are paying market-related rentals for the use of the houses; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) what is the total number of the ministerial houses which are vacant or standing empty; (4) whether any of the vacant houses are being rented and/or leased out to tenants or any person who is not a Minister or Deputy Minister; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
1. (a) In Pretoria there are 63 houses for Ministers and Deputy Ministers, and in Cape Town there are 70 houses for Ministers and Deputy Ministers.
(b)(i) In Pretoria there is one house and in Cape Town there is none.
(ii) In Pretoria is former Deputy Minister Mr Gert Oosthuizen. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s acting Director General has written to Mr Oosthuizen to vacate the property by end of January 2021.
2. The valuation of the market related rental that the former Deputy Minister has paid so far R240 000.
3. In Pretoria there are nine houses that are vacant, two of the houses will be reallocated, one is reserved for the President of the Pan African Parliament and one house is reserved for decanting purposes.
In Cape Town there are seven vacant houses, three houses will be reallocated and one house has been reserved for decanting.
4. In Pretoria one house has been rented out to a Section 9 institution at a market rent of R60 000 a month.