Lesufi orders probe into R34m office rental costs in Gauteng
Sunday Times reported the provincial government spends R34m a month on renting office space, totalling more than R400m a year, despite owning 41 vacant buildings.
The vacant buildings are said to be in poor condition and have been declared uninhabitable, resulting in the provincial government having to lease office space from private owners.
Lesufi said an independent forensic company was appointed to determine whether the rental costs are justified and if there are any irregularities in the leasing process.
He outlined steps to address the issue, including conducting a cost-benefit analysis of owning vs leasing buildings and assisting the provincial government in optimising or selling vacant properties. The government will also explore private sector partnerships to repurpose underused buildings into mixed-use developments.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Cost of new number plates faces scrutiny
The rollout of a new high-tech, tamper-proof number plate system has sparked widespread concern over cost, necessity, and transparency, most notably from civil rights organisation AfriForum. Gauteng Provincial Government has begun rolling out the new number plate system within the province's fleet of cars since June 5 in a bid to combat crime, vehicle fraud, and enhance law enforcement. This pilot is expected to last for six months before a broader rollout to the public. As the pilot phase continues, AfriForum is awaiting a response to its internal appeal and weighing its next steps, which may include lodging a formal complaint with the Information Regulator or pursuing legal action to compel the release of requested data like the cost of the plates. The initiative, spearheaded by Premier Panyaza Lesufi and unveiled in June, includes plans to extend it to all private and commercial vehicles in the province by early 2026. The plates are designed with advanced security features, including QR codes, anti-tamper decals, and a digitised backend to allow for instant verification of vehicle ownership and status. No costs to vehicle owners were announced by the premier at the launch. The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport touts the system as a modern, digitised approach to tackle vehicle-related crime and streamline enforcement. AfriForum, which represents over 185 000 members in Gauteng, has lodged an internal appeal after the department failed to respond to its Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) request on data about the project within the mandated 30 days. The organisation is demanding answers on key aspects of the new number plate project, including estimated cost per unit, the timeline for mandatory replacement, and the research behind claims that the system will improve road safety or reduce crime. According to Louis Boshoff, spokesperson and campaign officer at AfriForum, the organisation's concerns are rooted in broader issues of governance. 'Gauteng residents are already under pressure due to poor service delivery, ranging from persistent power cuts to unreliable water supply. Launching a costly new number plate system at this time appears to be a misplaced priority,' Boshoff stated. AfriForum's PAIA request focuses on three core areas: how much the new plates will cost motorists, when the public will be required to replace existing plates, and the research backing the claims of improved security. The department acknowledged receipt of the request, and after a follow-up, indicated that the information was being processed. However, when no further communication was received, AfriForum proceeded with an internal appeal. One of the organisation's main criticisms is the lack of clarity around pricing. At present in Pretoria, the cost of registration plates varies. A standard set of number plates (front and rear) can cost around R220 to R500 for metal plates with R100 for backing plates if needed. Additional fees may apply for things like attachment frames, service fees for processing the registration, or if you choose personalised plates. 'The only available comparison is the current price of a standard number plate. If the new system involves improved security features, higher production costs are almost inevitable,' said Boshoff. 'Additionally, replacing a number plate may also require a new licence disk, adding to the financial burden on motorists.' Boshoff questioned the project's relevance in addressing Gauteng's urgent challenges. 'Even if the new number plates function exactly as intended, this does not address the core issue, which is weak law enforcement. Without consistent enforcement, the efficacy of advanced number plates is negligible.' AfriForum is also sceptical about the research that supposedly informed the project. According to Boshoff, the organisation has reviewed numerous studies related to road safety and crime prevention in South Africa but has found no compelling evidence linking enhanced number plate security with measurable improvements in these areas. 'If such research does exist, we are baffled as to why the department has failed to share it with the public,' he said. The initiative comes with significant logistical implications. Gauteng is home to over 3.5 million registered vehicles, meaning about 7 million new plates, front and rear, would need to be produced and distributed. For AfriForum, the absence of a transparent budget or feasibility study raises red flags. Boshoff warns that the initiative could follow the same trajectory as the widely criticised e-toll system: 'If this is pushed through without public buy-in or transparency, we could see another stalled project due to mass non-compliance.' While the department maintains that the pilot phase will evaluate the system's cost implications and functionality, concerns persist that vehicle owners will ultimately shoulder the cost of the transition. If prices become too high, organisations like the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) have warned that fleet operators may choose to license their vehicles in other provinces, potentially leading to revenue losses for Gauteng. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Women unite to mark 69 years since iconic march
The Gauteng Provincial Government, in partnership with the Tshwane metro, hosted the annual Women's Day celebration at the Union Buildings on Saturday. Marking the 69th anniversary of the historic 1956 Women's March, the event was held under the theme 'Building Resilient Economies for All'. The day began with a powerful re-enactment of the march, as the women in the safety and security cluster led a 2.2km procession from Tshwane House, located on the corner of Lillian Ngoyi and Madiba streets, to the Union Buildings. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and other government officials joined the march, paying tribute to the courage of the women who fought for freedom. Addressing the crowd at the Union Buildings, Premier Lesufi highlighted the importance of unity and economic empowerment for women. The celebration continued with a music festival featuring an all-female line-up. MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane, said the province had made significant strides in creating an enabling environment for women to thrive. 'Over the years, Gauteng has created an enabling environment for women to thrive both in their personal and professional lives. 'Investing in women and girls in areas such as sport, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities will remain one of the province's priorities,' he said. He said they salute the achievements of women over the years, including their pivotal role in transforming the nation, and their contributions to socio-economic development. 'We will continue to honour women from different spheres of life for their remarkable achievements and overcoming challenges and societal barriers.' An on-site government and business expo brought services closer to residents, with organisations such as SARS, Home Affairs, SASSA, the Department of Health and economic development agencies offering assistance and information to attendees. ALSO READ: New training aims to empower communities to tackle rising child kidnappings Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
Lesufi announces plan to end 'corrupt' tender system with new Nasi Ispani phase
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced a new phase of the Nasi Ispani initiative which seeks to put an end to the flaws in the tender system. Image: Gauteng Gov / X Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced a new phase of his Nasi Ispani programme, which will end the province's reliance on the often 'corrupt' tendering system. Lesufi said his province will be the first to move away from the tendering system, with plans to train young people in various technical skills, including welding, painting, and bricklaying. Speaking during the Provincial Women's Day celebration at the Union Buildings in the City of Tshwane on Saturday, Lesufi said the province is introducing a new approach to ensure young people benefit from infrastructure development and service delivery. "I am the one who is in charge right now. We cannot allow things to go the way we want them. We are introducing the next phase of Nasi Ispani. This round of Nasi Ispani is completely different. This round of Nasi Ispani goes to the heart of our problems. In this second round of Nasi Ispani, we have spoken to all our technical schools, we have spoken to all our TVET colleges and we have spoken to all our universities," Lesufi stated. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The Premier indicated that his government is willing to fund the training of young people who want to take up opportunities created by his government to minimise the negative impact the tendering system has had on service delivery and sustainable job creation. "When schools close, when universities close, when TVET colleges close, we want everyone to go to university, and I will pay them to be taught. I will pay them to be bricklayers. I will pay for them to be painters. I will pay for them to be welders, and when they graduate, the government will no longer go on a tender for a painter. The government will no longer go on a tender for a bricklayer and for government to build RDP houses," he said. Lesufi's address comes days after he appointed Roche Mogorosi as the acting Head of Department for Community Safety, following the suspension of both the department's Head of Department and Chief Financial Officer, following a series of suspensions in some of the provincial departments. These suspensions follow the conclusion of a forensic investigation by the Provincial Forensic Audit Unit within the Office of the Premier, which uncovered financial irregularities in the department.
