Question NW2239 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
29 June 2023 - NW2239
Montwedi, Mr Mk to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
What (a)(i) are the full details and (ii) is the total number of (aa) business, (bb) residential and (cc) farm properties of his department that remain unoccupied and/or without any lease agreement, (b) total amount is his department losing in revenue as a result, (c) are the costs of rates and taxes that his department is paying whilst each specified property is unoccupied and (d) plans are in place to have the properties operational?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
(a)
(i)
aa) DPWI is no aware of any business property that is unoccupied.
bb) The total number of residential properties which are unutilised and or/without any lease agreement is estimated to be 466 (see attached annexure A).
cc) The total number of farm properties which are unutilised and or/without any lease agreement is estimated to be 1796 (see attached annexure B).
b) The Department is in a process of renewing expired leases and regularization agreements where there were no leases.
c) The total amount of rates and taxes paid on unoccupied properties as from April 2022 to May 2023 is R21 735 435,36.
d) The Department is in a process of letting out its unutilised state owned properties to interested investors.