Issued by: Minister of Public Works
It is with extreme concern that we note the negative media coverage that we have received on the upgrading of the President's official residence in Mahlarnba-Ndlopfu and we wish to set the record straight on this matter.
The facts pertaining to this project are as follows:
The Department of Public Works is responsible for the maintenance of all State property, including prestige accommodation. This prestige accommodation includes the official presidential residence in Pretoria. As part of its planned maintenance programme, the Department is currently undertaking repairs and renovations to the presidential residence in Pretoria.
This planned maintenance has been necessitated as a result of a deterioration of the condition of the residence. To this end it must be noted that although minor day-to-day maintenance has been performed on a regular basis by the Department since 1940, no major rehabilitation of the residence has been undertaken since occupation by former President FW de Klerk in 1990, and the general condition has deteriorated dramatically since then. The extent of the accumulating defects is significant, and includes inter alia an extensively leaking roof severe water penetration and a hazardous electrical system.
The Department has long intended to perform the required structural interventions and tie property has continually featured on its maintenance programme. Constant occupancy during these years, however, has limited the Department's access to the residence. The change of Presidency was thus viewed as an opportune time to effect the required intervention. The Department consulted with the presidency on the matter of the required upgrade, and it was agreed that the upgraded residence would be made available to them on 30 November 1999. To this end, the President and Mrs Mbeki would remain in residence at Oliver Tambo House.
This project has been. budgeted for, as part of the Department's budget for the maintenance of State facilities. It is estimated that the refurbishment cost will be approximately R5 million.
At no point were any of the State Tender Board regulations breached as inferred. in some of the media reports. The Department did, indeed, approach the State Tender Board to utilise the RDPS model to deliver this project, taking into consideration the security risks and the speed of delivery that is available under this model. This model is an approved State Tender Board Procurement Delivery model for application to certain construction projects under certain circumstances. The Tender Board recommended that we adopt the conventional procurement process with a shortened tender period, and this was complied with by the Department.
In planning the renovations, consultations were held with the Presidency to ensure that the renovations accommodate the working style of our President and Mrs Mbeki. This included inter alia amendments to the study and office facilities.
The response from some of the media and opposition political parties have sensationalised what we consider to be a standard refurbishment exercise that is conducted from time to time by the Department in fulfilling our mandate. We consider this refurbishment necessary and essential in order to ensure that State assets do not deteriorate to an. extent that remedial work will cost the taxpayer significantly more in the future. We will. continue to ensure that State accommodation, including that which is provided for our President, is befitting for a head of state.
CONTACT PERSON: LUCKY MOCHALIBANE
CHIEF DIRECTOR: COMMUNICATIONS
TEL: (012)337 2057
CELL: 082 899 9775
19 August 1999