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DA Welcomes Proposed Sale Of Gauteng Premier’s Official Residence

Premier’s Official Residence in Bryanston

I welcome the announcement today by Gauteng Premier David Makhura that the Premier’s Official Residence in Bryanston Johannesburg will be sold along with all houses owned by the Provincial Government.

He said this in an oral reply to my questions in the Legislature.

According to Makhura, the Department of Infrastructure Development has been given an express mandate to sell all houses owned by the Gauteng Provincial Government.

He said: “We are confident that this decision will not only save us money from maintenance but it will help raise additional resources to fund the TMR priorities such as student bursaries and rollout of Tshepo 500 000.”

Last year about 50 engagements and meetings were held at the Bryanston house, which costs about R1.5 million a year to run.

Emoyeni Conference Centre

Makhura said that more details about these meetings would be provided to me this week in response to an application I made in March this year in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA).

It was revealed last year that R4.2 million was spent on the house since May 2014 when Premier Makhura took the decision not to live there.

My view is that it is much cheaper to use the province-owned Emoyeni Conference Centre or a private venue as the annual cost of the Bryanston house works out to about R30 000 a meeting just as a venue.

A lot of money could have been saved if the house was sold earlier as it is a white elephant.

 

Media enquiries:

Jack Bloom MPL

DA Gauteng Member the Oversight Committee on the Premier’s Office and Legislature

082 333 4222

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R1.5m A Year For Gauteng State House Used For Only 50 Meetings

Premier’s Official Residence – Bryanston

Gauteng Premier David Makhura has revealed that about 50 engagements and meetings were held last year at the Bryanston house that was formerly the official Premier’s residence.

Makhura says in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature that “the House is utilised principally for official business wherein the Premier engages with various sectors, stakeholders, departments, municipalities and foreign missions.”

But when asked for costs and the details of the events at the House, he says “there is really no need to provide such details” and “the cost for all official meetings is budgeted for by the Office of the Premier”.

This is an evasive reply and it looks like there is something to hide. I have therefore put in an application under the Promotion of Access to Information Act to get the details and costs of the meetings held at the house.

We know from previous official replies that annual costs of this house include the following:

Gardening:              R309 000

Cleaning:                 R300 000

Water and lights:      R227 000

Rates and taxes:      R195 000

RDP Houses

The total yearly cost together with the R500 000 maintenance cost in the latest budget means that this house costs at least R1.5 million a year. This money could build about 45 RDP houses.

Why is the Premier reluctant to give details on the 50 “engagements and meetings” at the house and what they cost?

It is surely more cost-effective to use the province-owned Emoyeni Conference Centre or a private venue as the annual cost of the Bryanston house works out to about R30 000 a meeting just as a venue.

Mbhazima Shilowa

Last year it was revealed that R4.2 million was spent on the house since May 2014 when Premier Makhura took the decision not to live there.

More than R20 million has been spent on its upkeep, including many refurbishments and repairs, since it was bought in March 2004 for R11.5 million for the use of then-Premier Mbhazima Shilowa.

Makhura says in his reply that “the future of this house will be considered, together with all non-core assets and fixed properties owned by the Gauteng government.”

My view is that its present use does not justify the cost and it should be sold as soon as possible.

 

Media enquiries:

Jack Bloom MPL

DA Member of the Oversight Committee of the Office of the Premier and Legislature

082 333 4222

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DA Debates Gauteng Premier’s 2014/15 Annual Report

Speech by: Jack Bloom MPL

 “Wheels of delivery slow to turn in Premier’s office”

  • It is a sad comment after 21 years of single party rule in Gauteng that there is still not a fully staffed premier’s office to do its vital work in leading this province.
  • There were 122 cases of financial misconduct, mostly for theft, fraud and corruption, but guess how many officials face criminal charges for this. Only four officials, which is a prosecution rate of 3 percent.
  • Another drain on resources is the former Premier’s Official residence in Bryanston. R4.2 million has been spent on it since May last year when the current premier decided not to live there.
  • Honourable Premier, it is inexcusable to continue to pay money on this white elephant which should be sold as soon as possible.

The full speech can be obtained here.

 

 

Speech by: Justus de Goede MPL

“Premier Makhura: A man of plans, but of little action”

  • The Ntirhisano Rapid Response War Room has, according to the report, merely recorded “complaints dealt with efficiently”. In contrast to the hot line, where figures are produced for results, there is no further information on the nature or quantity of these resolved complaints.
  • The Gauteng Infrastructure Coordinating Committee and in particular its offshoot, the Technical GICC, is supposed to streamline intergovernmental relations, yet there is no indication in the report back of what the meetings actually produced.
  • I do notice that the Premier has been in Tshwane several times, notably in Mamelodi, where I often find myself. I hope that he is speaking frankly to the Executive Mayor about matters like the Metro’s rapid transit system and smart electricity meters.

The full speech can be obtained here.

 

Media enquiries:

Jack Bloom MPL

DA Gauteng Spokesperson on the Office of the Premier

082 333 4222

 

Justus de Goede MPL

DA Gauteng Spokesperson on the Office of the Premier

060 558 8305

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R4.2m Spent On Gauteng Premier’s Official Residence

A total of R4.2 million has been spent on the official residence of the Gauteng premier since May last year, even though the premier no longer lives there.

This is revealed by Infrastructure Development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

The house in Bryanston in north Johannesburg was refurbished for R2.47 million which included converting a mini-golf course into parking, fixing the leaking roof, replacing all external door locks, and repairs to the electrical system, plumbing, paintwork and furniture.

Other expenses were as follows:

  • Plumbing – R448 000;
  • Gardening – R309 000;
  • Cleaning – R300 000;
  • Electrical – R216 246; and
  • Refurbishment of pool- R30 805

Furthermore, R227 000 was spent on water and light and R195 000 on rates and taxes.

This house was bought in March 2004 for R11.5 million for the use of then-Premier Mbhazima Shilowa. Since then, more than R20 million has been spent on its upkeep, including many refurbishments and repairs.

R8.4 million was spent when Shilowa was premier for renovations and alterations of the main house, conference facilities and the parking area.

Although he never lived there, R1 745 000 was spent during Paul Mashatile’s short premiership supposedly to repair structural damage

In 2009 and 2010, when Premier Nomvula Mokonyane lived there, a total of R2 704 500 was spent on refurbishment of the main bedroom and en-suite bath room, as well as the kitchen, laundry, dressing room closet, curtains and bedding, and furniture.

According to MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, the Office of the Premier has “utilized the property for official business engagements with national and international guests.”

This is a poor justification for keeping this house and continuing to spent an exorbitant amount on it.

The Provincial government already has the Emoyeni Conference Centre and there are lots of private facilities that can be used for any other requirements.

This house is a white elephant that should be sold as soon as possible. I suspect it is being retained because connected people are making money out of its running costs and never-ending repairs and maintenance.

How many more times does it need to be renovated?

Premier Makhura claims he is cutting unnecessary costs. He should sell this house which no longer serves any useful purpose but just chews more and more money.

 

Media enquiries:

Jack Bloom MPL

DA Gauteng Member of the Oversight Committee on the Premier’s Office and Legislature
082 333 4222

[Image source]