Question NW2307 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
07 July 2022 - NW2307
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
Since April 2022, what steps has he taken to rectify the most egregious of the myriad of faults at the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), such as a roof that has been leaking for years, an air-conditioning system that has been dysfunctional since 2014, an elevator that has been dysfunctional for four years or more, a very valuable library collection housed in an area that is not fireproof and an important court subjected to load-shedding, which were observed when the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services paid an oversight visit to the SCA on 22 April 2022?
Reply:
Leaking roof:
There is a plan to replace the leaking roof and the project is currently in the planning phase.
Air-conditioning
There is a terms contract in place with DPWI that covers for the repair and service of HVAC system which commenced on the 1st April 2021 and due to expire in April 2023.
However, due to the fact that the system is very old, the HVAC system has to a history of continuous breakdown with recommendations that the system be replaced due to lack of availability of spares as the system is too old. The system was repaired in numerous occasions without any lasting solutions. There is a plan to replace HVAC system and the project is currently in the planning phase.
On the 12 May 2022 the commissioned engineers conducted a conditional assessment of the HVAC system. Taking into consideration the planning and the procurement processes that are still to ensure, it is anticipated that the contractor for the replacement maintained through the existing term contract until it is replaced.
The Elevator
a) Both the elevator and the lift shaft are back in service since 28 April 2022.
b) The sump pumps in the lift shaft were fixed on 28 April 2022.
c) The supplier is currently finalising the fixing of the pipes under the basement parking areas and is scheduled to complete the repairs fully by 30 June 2022.
Fireproof in library
The possible risk of fire, the fire suppression gas system is operational and serviced. The fire extinguishers were serviced on the 20 April 2022.
Load shedding
The Office of the Chief Justice has received confirmation from the electricity service provider, Centlec that the Supreme Court of Appeal has been taken off the load shedding schedule during official working hours. The court has experienced load shedding on a few occasions during May 2022 and these were all after 17: 00. A generator is available and fully functional at the court.
END