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Date : 14/01/2004
Source: Department of Public Works
Title: Sigcau: Official handover of the new SA Chancery in the DRC


SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS, STELLA SIGCAU, AT THE OFFICIAL HANDOVER OF THE NEW SOUTH AFRICAN CHANCERY AND DIPLOMATIC VILLAGE IN KINSHASA, DRC, 14 January 2004

The Master of Ceremonies,
The President of South Africa, Mr Thabo Mbeki,
The South African Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mr S Ngombane,
The South African Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma,
The Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo,
All Government Ministers present,
All Senior Officials in attendance,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

As part of its core functions, the National Department of Public Works is responsible for the planning, acquisition, maintenance and ultimately disposal of state's immovable assets, namely land and buildings, to provide conducive physical environment that meets the social, technical, functional and financial expectations of government and its departments.

The successful completion of the R76 million South African Chancery in Berlin, Germany, is another jewel on the crown of our extensive building programme made up of more than 6 600 projects of varying size and scope that the Department of Public Works manages on behalf of the state and its organs, including user departments such as the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The expansion of South Africa's representation in Africa resulted in the need for a Chancery and Housing Accommodation to meet the needs of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Consequently two properties were purchased here in Kinshasa with the intention to establish facilities for the Department of Foreign Affairs:

* An existing 6-storey open plan building, not previously occupied was adapted and upgraded to serve as the Chancery

* A Site with 3 old houses was developed into a Diplomatic Village

The feasibility study for the adaptation and development was completed in October 2000 and following a due process of tendering, the building contract was awarded to Mvelaphanda, a South African contractor with ties in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The site was handed over in November 2001 to commence with construction. The Chancery and the Diplomatic Village were completed in July 2002 and November 2003 respectively.

In terms of the scope of work, the adaptation of the 1500 square metre chancery required:

* Alterations to existing building
* New partitions and suspended ceilings
* Electrical, generator and UPS installation
* Security access control and camera surveillance
* New water tanks and pumps
* Smoke detection and sprinkler system installation
* Air-conditioning installation

On the other hand the development of the diplomatic village consists mainly of the following:

* Refurbishing two of the existing houses and altering and enlarging the third existing house to serve as the Ambassador's Official Residence
* Ten additional double-storey family houses for the transferred staff
* New recreational building
* Developing of the river front area, boathouse and facilities
* New water tanks and pumps
* External work (roads, boundary walls, slipway, swimming pool)
* New external services (water reticulation and drainage)
* Electrical, emergency generator and UPS installation
* Security, access control and camera surveillance
* Local Area Network (LAN)
* Telephone and intercom systems
* Air-conditioning installation

All in all more than three million US dollar worth of building and finishing material weighing in excess of 480 tons was imported from South Africa to supplement readily available local supplies such as cement bricks, sand and stone.

Special provision was made in the design taking in consideration the hot and humid climate, the splendour of Kinshasa and the magnificence of the Congo River. Once completed, the Village should alleviate the stress of being away from home with a recreation facility where residents can relax, watch TV and see how their favourite local SA teams are performing at home and abroad while enjoying nature and developing a communal spirit.

Despite initial difficult logistical problems as well as the erratic fluctuations of the South African Rand/US Dollar exchange, teamwork of all parties involved prevailed and the job was successfully finished. A word of gratitude should go to the professional consultants, contractors, the staff of the Embassy and the project management team in my Department. The understanding and collaboration of the Department of Foreign Affairs as a client should also be isolated for praise.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honour and a privilege to officially hand over the completed diplomatic precinct to my colleague and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

Issued by Department of Public Works
14 January 2004

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