Question NW2475 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
09 September 2022 - NW2475
Van Staden, Mr PA to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)Whether, considering the fact that her department is the custodian of the State’s 81 575 buildings and is therefore responsible to ensure that such fixed assets are maintained in good clean condition, she has found that her department has ceded any of its responsibilities to government departments that utilise such buildings and whose line functions and areas of expertise do not include the knowledge and/or skills to conduct the maintainance of such buildings effectively; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what are the reasons that her department ceded such responsibilities to the specified departments, (b) what is the nature of maintenance thus ceded, (c) what is the limit for each project and (d) how does her department intend to prevent the possible lack of effective and timeous maintenance by such departments leading to the further deterioration of the buildings and therefore increasing the existing maintenance backlog; (2) whether she will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)
(a) I have been informed by the Department that due to challenges in addressing the maintenance and delays experienced by User Departments, especially in the ambit of Repairs, Refurbishment, Renovations and Replacements, certain maintenance functions were devolved to the User Department.
(b) Within the maintenance type, there is preventive maintenance, which comprises of interval or time-based approaches and condition-based, through inspections, testing and monitoring. The maintenance actions are servicing and maintenance actions. Within corrective maintenance, when there is a breakdown or failure, there will be a planned or emergency maintenance approach through repairs based on the condition and criticality of the assets. Minor non-technical or building maintenance was devolved to User Departments.
(c) The current interim increase in devolution, is R1 million per incident.
(d) Section 17(3) (a), of the Government Immovable Asset Management Act, IV read in conjunction with subsections 17(1) and 17(2) allows for the delegation of any powers or duties entrusted to the Minister, to any official in the employ of another organ of state and delegation of the accounting officer of a custodian or user may, in writing, delegate any powers or duties entrusted to him or her to any official in the employ of that custodian or user.
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- Section 17(3)(a) the delegation as referred to in subsection (1) or (2) is subject to any limitations or conditions that the Minister or Accounting Officer may impose.
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- As such there is an interim increase in delegation for Day-to-Day Maintenance for specific building works following written confirmation from the User Department. The conditions are:
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- The work to be carried out is absolutely necessary and is in aid of service delivery;
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- The User Department has the technical capacity and competency to carry out the Day-to-Day Maintenance for specific building works up to R 1 million;
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- DPWI will be indemnified from any work carried out by the User Department;
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- The User Department understands and will ensure that there will be a clear segregation of Opex and Capex work to ensure that there is compliance with all related prescripts
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- Review and revision of the service level agreement to accommodate this request between DPWI and the User Department.
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