Question NW2469 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
05 July 2023 - NW2469
Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1)(a) On what date was the last assessment of the condition of the Brighton Beach Police Station buildings in Bluff in KwaZulu-Natal conducted, (b) what buildings were assessed and (c) what are the details of the findings; (2) what is the progress of the installation of the JoJo tanks that have been installed with pumps that have not been linked to the water system; (3) what (a) processes were used in terms of the allocation of living quarters for (i) single and (ii) married SA Police Service (SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICES) officials and (b) are the basic standards of accommodation provided by the SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICES at the specified precinct; (4) what safety assessment has been conducted on the basement of the single quarters where water and sewage are overflowing into the basement; (5) whether a budget has been allocated for repairs and refurbishment of the station in the current financial year; if not, by what date will a budgeting process be undertaken to address the issues at the police station; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
(1)
a) 30 May 2023.
b) Station block, cells, single and married quarters.
c) A Back to Office Report is still in progress but has thus far captured serious concerns surrounding the flat concrete roof leaks at the block of flats, the cells that do not comply with the Project Five Start Specifications, the down pipes, aging infrastructure (waste water underground pipes) and lack of security measures.
(2) The provision, installation and connection of the JoJo Tanks are considered a capital works project and hence would require South African Police Services to request such capital works from DPWI as governed by the Service Level Agreement and Government Immovable Asset Management Act as they hold the Capital infrastructure budget. Regrettably, South African Police Services had independently purchased 3 x 5000lts JoJo tanks on the 08 August 2022. The same appointed Contractor that delivered the JoJo Tanks had them installed and connected to the main water municipal line.
As REONET (shared water savings initiative) is already on site, a request will be made to them for the possible assistance in electrical connection of the water tanks, failure which will require South African Police Services to fund this connection and create a Works Control System Project. A time frame can thus not be provided immediately.
(3) As South African Police Services are custodians of allocating official quarters to their qualifying members, this question must be posed to South African Police Services for a response.
(4) It is acknowledged that despite a safety assessment not being conducted that the spill over within the basement is of serious concern which has further been captured as such in the Back to Office Report. The Client was requested to log a call with NDPWI Central Call Centre to afford NDPWI an opportunity of addressing such via day-to-day.
(5) No, a budget has not been allocated for repairs and refurbishment of the station in the current financial year. The budget process has already commenced by means of the Back to Office Report which must be submitted to Construction Projects Management Business Units for evaluation and cost estimate purposes, after which such will be submitted to Property Portfolio Management Unit.
The following dates are projected:-
Submit Back to Office Report to Construction Projects Management Business Units by 30 June 2023. Construction Projects Management Business Units to evaluate and provide cost estimate by end of July 2023. Submit the motivation to Property Portfolio Management Unit or further attention in respect of processes to allocate funds and create a Works Control System Project within the first week of August 2023. Allocate funding and create a Works Control System Project for implementation within the 2024/2025 financial year, subject to availability of funds.