Question NW398 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
17 March 2023 - NW398
Breytenbach, Adv G to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
What steps has his Department taken since 1 September 2022 to fix the collapsed roof of the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court?
Reply:
On 27 February 2020, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) handed over the site to the contractor to carry out planned maintenance to the entire building of the Magistrate’s Court. However, COVID-19 lockdown regulations disrupted the project, as soon as the restrictions were lifted and the contractor came back on site, access to the building was an issue, the local business forum intimidated the workers which added to the delays. The contractor returned fully on site with effect from 1 August 2022, following SAPS intervention.
The rubble from the collapsed roof has been cleared and removed from site. An assessment has been conducted by the Structural Engineer on 23 September 2022 on the entire roof of the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court. The Structural Engineer’s report recommended that the whole roof trusses and tiles be replaced.
A submission was sent by DPWI Mmabatho Regional Office on 22 November 2022 to DPWI National Office requesting funding for the replacement of the roof trusses and roof tiles as an emergency, as this was not forming part of the original project scope of works. The DPWI Variation Order Committee has been dissolved and Variation Orders cannot be approved. The Variation Order Committee is expected to be established by the end of February 2023.
Once the DPWI Variation Order Committee is established, DPWI will provide the DoJ&CD with the Project Execution Plan. The contractor is still on site attending to the project as per the original scope of works.
END