Question NW2885 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
06 January 2021 - NW2885
Siwisa, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
(1) What total (a) number of buildings is her department renting from private landlords in order to house government departments and/or institutions and (b) amount is her department paying per annum for each specified building; (2) whether there have been cases in the past financial year where there was an overpayment of rental to landlords; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what total amount did the overpayments amount to? NW3710E
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
(1) I was informed by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) that:
(a) As at March 2020, there were 2265 properties that the DPWI was renting from private landlords to house government departments and/or institutions; and
(b) total payments on those buildings for the financial year ended 31 March 2020 amounted to R5 billion. (See ANNEXURE A - a register of payments for each lease.)
(2) I was informed by the Department that when the DPWI migrated to new system to accommodate the lease-in functionality, there have been instances where overpayments occurred. The number of leases affected as a result of the overpayments were 305 with a total value of R66 million. From the R66 million overpayment an amount of R55 million has already been recovered and the balance of R11 million is being recovered.