Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Matthew Hirsch
Published on 2024-03-03 10:59:10
The national headquarters of SAPS in Pretoria have been thrust into the spotlight this week as it was revealed that the Telkom Towers complex, purchased by Public Works in 2016 for nearly R700-million, has been declared unfit for human use. The complex has been flagged by the Auditor-General as a material irregularity, with only one of the nine buildings being used by SAPS while the rest remain vacant, costing the government at least R592-million.
The sorry state of the SAPS office at Telkom Towers was brought to light during a presentation to MPs on Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure. It was revealed that the complex, which was meant to serve as the central headquarters for SAPS in Pretoria, has been underused and staff were recently evacuated from the premises due to safety concerns.
The Auditor-General noted that 12 material irregularities had been identified in its report, with the situation at Telkom Towers being one of them. Service delivery has been impacted significantly, with the closure of the complex affecting SAPS’s ability to conduct their business as intended. The Auditor-General has made recommendations for the portfolio committee to evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of consequence management systems to deal with instances of material irregularities.
During an oversight visit in 2022, concerns were raised about officials being unprepared and denied entry into some of the offices at Telkom Towers. The deplorable state of the SAPS office was highlighted by Johan Böning from Solidarity, who described a lack of clean drinking water, broken facilities, and unsafe conditions. The closure of the office was ordered by National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, prioritizing the well-being of employees.
In response to the closure of the building, national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe stated that arrangements are being made for functions to be carried out at alternative premises and that core policing remains unaffected. Despite the Auditor-General’s findings, Mathe claimed that SAPS had actively sought a project execution plan from Public Works for the other buildings at Telkom Towers, but had not received it.
The closure of the SAPS office at Telkom Towers serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by government departments in maintaining and utilizing state-owned facilities. The situation highlights the need for improved oversight and accountability in managing public resources to ensure that taxpayer funds are used effectively and efficiently. The fate of Telkom Towers and the future of SAPS headquarters in Pretoria remain uncertain as authorities work to address the issues at hand.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
