Question NW220 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
04 June 2021 - NW220
Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
Whether, with reference to the property owned by her department situated on the corner of Jubilee and Andries Pretorius Streets in Somerset West, which is currently vacant, damaged by fire and vandalised and is now boarded up as a result, her department has assessed the (a) extent of the damage to the building and (b) costs associated with repair and refurbishment; if not, (i) will her department consider alienating the property, (ii) what would the time frames be for such alienation and (iii) will her department consider donating the building to a non-profit organisation and/or non-government organisation for use as a shelter or other public benefit; if so, (aa) what are the costs, (bb) what are the details of the plan for the refurbishment, (cc) what are the associated time frames and (dd) what plans are in place for the building?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
(a) I am informed by the Department that it is in the process of assessing the extent of the damage to the building. On 17 February 2021 the Department initiated the process to undertake an Investment Analysis in order to ascertain the future utilization of the property as well as a Structural Report which will provide a full assessment of the damages.
(b) The cost for the repair and refurbishment of the dwelling will be established once the aforesaid reports have been finalised.
(i) The future of the property will be based on the outcome of the Investment Analysis.
ii) The Investment Analysis will be finalised by the end of June 2021. This will provide an investment solution for the property.
iii) Although the outcome of the Investment Analysis will provide a final way forward, the option of donating the building to a non-profit organisation and/or non-government organisation for use as a shelter or other public benefit could be a possibility.
aa) The costs are not yet known.
bb) The outcome of the Investment Analysis will provide a way forward.
cc) Timeframes can only be provided once a decision on the future of the property has been made.
dd) The future plans of the property will be based on the outcome of the Investment Analysis.