The department of roads and public works has handed over a R192-million contract for the construction of a four-storey building for government departments in Aliwal North.
The building will be an addition to newly renovated state-owned department office space and according to public works MEC Thandiswa Marawu, will save the district more than R10-million in annual rentals.
Yesterday Marawu officially opened the newly renovated office space that accommodates seven departments and performed a sod-turning ceremony for the new building, which will house four departments.
According to the MEC the department, as custodian of provincial state properties, has been subjected to exorbitant rentals on private buildings that house state departments for office space.
Marawa said since 2011 the department had embarked on acquiring land and properties for office space that would be owned by the department.
“The department managed to receive the ex-CPA library building in Aliwal North for renovations and a portion of land that was constructed into offices,” she said.
The former CPA library building was completed and handed over earlier this year.
However, the newly renovated building did not have sufficient space for all 11 departments in the district and could only accommodate seven departments.
“The department of rural development and agrarian reform, social development and special programmes, roads and public works and health could not be accommodated and were still subjected to renting private buildings.
“The department resolved to request land from the Maletswai local municipality.
“In a series of communications and engagements with the municipality, the department finally received land from the municipality in 2014 for the intended additional offices,” said Marawu.
The MEC said the entire process was conducted with the approval of the department and contractors were sent on site and work started in May this year.
The construction will be in two phases.
The first has a construction period of three years and on completion will stand as a four-storey building offering office space to the departments of roads and public and works, and rural development and agrarian reform.
“The second phase will take place thereafter and will accommodate the district department of social development and the health department.”
Close to 1000 jobs will be created during the construction of the new building.
Three years ago the MEC unveiled plans to construct a 66000m² office precinct in Bhisho that will house national and provincial government departments.
The office park is part of the department’s multibillion rand Bhisho revitalisation programme.
Spokesman for the department Mphumzi Zuzile said yesterday construction of the office park was due to start early next year.
“The tender will be out in the next three months and construction is planned to start in February.” — arethal@dispatch.co.za
New R192m building planned
The building will be an addition to newly renovated state-owned department office space and according to public works MEC Thandiswa Marawu, will save the district more than R10-million in annual rentals.
Yesterday Marawu officially opened the newly renovated office space that accommodates seven departments and performed a sod-turning ceremony for the new building, which will house four departments.
According to the MEC the department, as custodian of provincial state properties, has been subjected to exorbitant rentals on private buildings that house state departments for office space.
Marawa said since 2011 the department had embarked on acquiring land and properties for office space that would be owned by the department.
“The department managed to receive the ex-CPA library building in Aliwal North for renovations and a portion of land that was constructed into offices,” she said.
The former CPA library building was completed and handed over earlier this year.
However, the newly renovated building did not have sufficient space for all 11 departments in the district and could only accommodate seven departments.
“The department of rural development and agrarian reform, social development and special programmes, roads and public works and health could not be accommodated and were still subjected to renting private buildings.
“The department resolved to request land from the Maletswai local municipality.
“In a series of communications and engagements with the municipality, the department finally received land from the municipality in 2014 for the intended additional offices,” said Marawu.
The MEC said the entire process was conducted with the approval of the department and contractors were sent on site and work started in May this year.
The construction will be in two phases.
The first has a construction period of three years and on completion will stand as a four-storey building offering office space to the departments of roads and public and works, and rural development and agrarian reform.
“The second phase will take place thereafter and will accommodate the district department of social development and the health department.”
Close to 1000 jobs will be created during the construction of the new building.
Three years ago the MEC unveiled plans to construct a 66000m² office precinct in Bhisho that will house national and provincial government departments.
The office park is part of the department’s multibillion rand Bhisho revitalisation programme.
Spokesman for the department Mphumzi Zuzile said yesterday construction of the office park was due to start early next year.
“The tender will be out in the next three months and construction is planned to start in February.” — arethal@dispatch.co.za
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