Dean Macpherson - Telkom Towers police HQ a 'monument to inefficient management', with 80% of projects delayed

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson revealed on Thursday in Parliament that nearly 80% of public works projects are currently delayed, and the troubled Telkom Towers complex in Pretoria is a prime example.

The complex, purchased for R700-million in 2016 to serve as the South African Police Service (SAPS) headquarters, was evacuated in February after being declared unfit for human habitation.

“These incomplete projects don’t just stand as unfinished structures. They are monuments to inefficient management, corruption, lost opportunities, deferred dignity and unfulfilled promises to the public,” said Macpherson.

In March, we reported how then police minister Bheki Cele had been working from home for four years due to the state of the Telkom Towers.

About R1-billion has been spent on upgrades over ten years. Yet the building still bears the Telkom sign and costs millions annually in security alone. Out of nine buildings in the complex, only one has ever been occupied by SAPS, leaving R592-million worth of building vacant, a portfolio committee oversight report said.

The committee’s oversight visit in October revealed numerous problems. The Department of Labour had found faulty electrical wiring and unmaintained fire extinguishers and air conditioning systems. The committee also noted non-functioning lifts, water damage and flooded parking bays.

Yet a facilities management service provider still holds a contract for maintaining the North Wing, despite the building being unoccupied.

The minister announced that the department is considering either repurposing the complex or removing it from its portfolio entirely.

He also revealed that out of 206 current infrastructure projects, 164 are experiencing delays, costing nearly R3-billion over several financial years.

“These delays are not just figures in a report, they represent stalled progress, halted economic growth, and deferred services for millions of South Africans,” said Macpherson.

On Wednesday the portfolio committee recommended that the minister brief the committee quarterly, submit a report within 30 days on a previous forensic investigation, and initiate a new independent investigation into the procurement and failed refurbishment of the Telkom Towers complex.

The oversight report also noted that the utilisation of the Telkom Towers had been intended to alleviate the pressure on the private lease budget, but instead SAPS continues to pay “excessive amounts” for private leases while government-owned buildings remain unused.

Macpherson announced that contractors who fail to meet their obligations will face immediate consequences, including blacklisting.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson revealed on Thursday in Parliament that nearly 80% of public works projects are currently delayed. Photo: Matthew Hirsch

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GroundUp experimented with AI Claude 3.5 Sonnet in the editing of this article.