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Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson announced that his department has issued tenders to appoint an independent investigator tasked with providing a comprehensive report within 60 days on the Telkom Towers building in Pretoria. The investigation aims to determine accountability and propose solutions to prevent further wastage of taxpayer money.
The Telkom Towers building was originally procured to serve as the South African Police headquarters in 2016, at a cost of nearly R700 million. Despite over R200 million being spent on renovations and other services, the building remains unused due to various lapses.
Addressing the media in Cape Town on Wednesday, Minister Macpherson revealed that another tender for an independent investigation will be issued in the coming weeks. This investigation will scrutinise leases established by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, ensuring they were conducted lawfully and that the state is paying fair market prices.
Earlier investigations, initiated by Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala, revealed a decade-long R300 million IT security breach within the department. Preliminary findings suggest significant financial losses, underscoring the severity of the breach.
In addition, Minister Macpherson has authorised the department’s legal services to assist the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) in recovering up to R20 million from Kroucamp Plumbers. The SIU discovered unlawful procurement processes in tenders awarded to the company in 2015 and 2018, along with payments to department officials amounting to over R300,000, indicative of corruption.
Minister Macpherson outlined his vision for the department to play a central role in utilising public assets for the public good, driving economic growth, and job creation. Key to this strategy is the expansion and capacitation of Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) to function as the single entry point for all priority infrastructure projects, ensuring efficient project delivery and increased investor confidence.
The Minister emphasised the need for the department to prioritise accountability and transparency in its operations while working to eliminate corruption and abuse across all levels