Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde has honoured a controversial R500-million lease for a building that will house the police's headquarters in Pretoria, The Star newspaper reported on Tuesday.
"We looked at whether there was a contract or not and discovered that there is one between the landlord [Roux Shabanga] and the department," she told the daily.
"We discovered that there is a binding contract between the department and Shabangu that was signed by the director general.
"We then took advice from state attorneys and realised that we had to honour this legal agreement, or else we would be sued for the same amount and more in the courts," said Mahlangu-Nkabinde.
The Sunday Times newspaper revealed a few months ago that the deal had been signed without a public tender, prompting the Hawks and the Public Protector to investigate.
Special Investigations Unit spokesperson Marika Muller told The Star the probe was still continuing.
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