The contract will address the electrical and mechanical issues to the amount of R39 million. The departmental spokesperson, Thamsanqa Mchunu, tells OFM News that the facility has been identified as one of those which needs to be refurbished.

He says funding has been sourced to start the process in the 2019/20 financial year to address plumbing and the general structural conditions of the building. OFM News previously reported that opposition parties last week blasted the department for neglecting the dilapidated building and cited safety issues for those who use the building. The building houses the public protector, police, national prosecuting authority and others.

Mchunu, however, says despite claims of safety issues, safety checks have been conducted by the health and safety inspectorate on a regular basis and the last was on 8 December 2018. No major safety concerns were identified, except for the lifts and that issue is being addressed.

“The lifts are very old and the Department is undertaking a project for the installation and maintenance of new lifts,” adds Mchunu. “The consultant has been appointed for the project and is undergoing vetting.” He added that the Department has appointed a contractor on an emergency basis to fix the lifts. “The contractor will ensure that a technician is appointed on site to attend to emergencies whilst awaiting the implementation of the project,” he further added. “There is another project to the amount of R3 million to install services for people with disabilities. We project to have a contractor on site at the end of May 2019,” Mchunu concluded.

OFM News