WeeklySA_AdminPROBE: SAPS won’t return to the R700-million Telkom Towers complex, evacuated last year amid safety concerns, and is looking for a new head office…
By Matthew Hirsch
The controversial police headquarters at the Telkom Towers Complex in Pretoria remains unfit for use about 18 months after it was evacuated due to health and safety concerns.
The Telkom Towers, purchased in 2016 for nearly R700-million to serve as the headquarters for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Pretoria, were evacuated in February 2024 and have been vacant since.
Dean Macpherson, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, in a written reply to Parliament, told MPs that a forensic report into the mismanagement of the complex is now complete, but that the site “is not yet ready for full use”.
The Minister of Police, in a letter dated October 29 2024, said SAPS plans to withdraw from the Telkom Towers Complex and pursue “an alternative accommodation strategy”. Macpherson said the department is working on a proposal to address SAPS’s long-term accommodation needs and potentially replace the current leasing model.
GroundUp reported how the complex was evacuated and flagged as a material irregularity by the Auditor-General. Macpherson then launched an investigation into the purchase of the complex in August last year. In September this year, MPs on the Portfolio Committee on Public Works criticised the slow progress of the investigation.
According to Macpherson, SAPS currently operates from 22 leased properties in Pretoria’s city centre, covering approximately 144,672m² of office space and 2,186 parking bays. “These leases cost the state about R444-million annually,” he said in a written response to a question from Bonginkosi Madikizela (DA).
“To reduce this financial burden, the Telkom Towers Complex, measuring around 99,277m² with 2,214 parking bays, was purchased for R694-million (VAT included), with SAPS contributing over R543-million toward the cost. The intention was to consolidate SAPS operations at this site,” he said.
One of the nine buildings in the complex, Macpherson said, had been refurbished in October 2022 by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) on behalf of the department. A certificate of occupancy was issued at the time, and SAPS began partial occupation. But in February 2024, the Department of Employment and Labour issued prohibition and contravention notices relating to safety and compliance concerns.
According to Macpherson, the department appointed a contractor for 36 months. “Since then, significant progress has been made in resolving the outstanding issues, including improving lighting, ventilation, fire safety equipment, and internal housekeeping matters,” he said.
“The department is also engaging with the City of Tshwane to obtain a new certificate of occupancy, as the initial one was withdrawn following the safety findings. Additional work requested by the City, including the installation of fire doors, fire seals, and a fireman’s lift, is underway and expected to be completed (this month),” he added.
The findings of the forensic report will be announced once Macpherson has reviewed them.
SAPS national spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, confirmed that SAPS is looking for an alternative HQ due to the “ten-year delay” at Telkom Towers. She said talks between Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and Macpherson are expected to happen soon “to determine the way forward”. – GroundUp
MIRROR Briefs
ARRESTED JUDGE ON LEAVE
Measures have been put in place to ensure that the running of cases assigned to arrested Pretoria High Court Judge, Portia Phahlane were not disrupted to safeguard continuity and justice for affected litigants, according to Chief Justice Mandisa Maya. Phahlane, her son, Kagiso Phahlane, Bhekumzi Mike Sandlana , leader of a faction of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church and his spokesperson, Vusi Ndala, were arrested last week. They appeared in court a few hours after their arrest where they faced 19 charges including corruption and money laundering.
Three of the accused, except Sandlana, were granted bail. Sandlana was denied bail after he resisted arrest. The accused are scheduled to appear in court again on March 6, 2026.
Shortly after Phahlane’s arrest, Maya issued a statement placing her on special leave with immediate effect pending finalization of the criminal proceedings. ‘’ The judiciary is the cornerstone of our constitutional democracy and any imputation of conduct that undermines its integrity and authority is treated with the utmost seriousness. If there is rot in the judiciary, it must be exposed’’, Maya said. The judiciary, in the discharge of its constitutional obligations and to safeguard its integrity, would cooperate fully with the police investigating the matter. Maya stressed that Phahlane remained innocent until a fair process was completed in a court of law. – WSAM Reporter.
SA HIT BY CATTLE DISEASE
South Africa was aiming to vaccinate its entire national herd estimated at 7,2 million against foot-and-mouth disease as the livestock industry grapples with a wave of outbreaks that had left farmers reeling in despair. Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, made the announcement at the African Farmers Association of South Africa conference north of Pretoria.
“The Department of Agriculture has resolved to implement a comprehensive strategy to vaccinate the entire national herd. This strategy aims to vaccinate South Africa’s national herd systematically, beginning with the hardest-hit provinces.”
South Africa’s national herd of cattle included huge herds on commercial farming operations and smaller herds owned by subsistence farmers grazing on communal, unfenced pastures. The epicentre remained in KZN, where dairy farmers had been hardest hit and which has 180 of the 274 unresolved reported outbreaks. The most affected districts were Kokstad, Dundee, Underberg and Dannhauser. The strategy aimed to target the worst-affected provinces first which included KZN, Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga and North West, which would be required to submit their livestock numbers and list of quarantined farms. South Africa has been battling a major FMD outbreak this year after the country’s largest feedlot, Karan Beef, reported an outbreak at its Heidelberg facility. – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SA DENOUNCES COUP
The South African Government has condemned the unconstitutional military seizure of power in Guinea-Bissau. The Presidency said that the timing of this action, which occurred during a crucial phase of the democratic electoral process, displayed a significant disregard for the constitutional order and the will of the people of Guinea-Bissau. “In unwavering support of the African Union’s principle of ‘zero tolerance’ for unconstitutional changes of government, South Africa calls for the immediate restoration of the legitimate civilian government and the unhindered completion of the electoral process,” the Presidency said in a statement. Reports indicated that Major General Horta Inta-A had been sworn in as the transitional President of Guinea-Bissau, just one day after army officers announced the ousting of the country’s President, marking the latest military coup in the West African nation.
Inta-A, who has served as the Chief of Staff of the Army, was believed to have had a close relationship with the recently deposed President, Umaro Sissoco Embalo. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission also condemned the military coup and called for the immediate and unconditional release of Embalo and all detained officials. “We urge all national stakeholders to pursue peaceful dialogue and affirm our commitment to work with the African Union and ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States] to support a swift return to constitutional order and lasting stability in Guinea-Bissau,” the Presidency said. According to reports, ousted President Embalo arrived in Senegal on a special flight after an intervention by the West African regional bloc. – SAnews.
NEARLY 2500 TO LOSE JOBS
Samancor Chrome may cut as many as 2,496 jobs in South Africa next year as it considers closing or slimming down operations because of high energy costs, a labour union said. The company informed labour groups that the rising power costs “make it impossible for the ferrochrome industry to survive, “Solidarity said in a statement, citing a letter from the employer. Operations that could be shuttered or downsized included the corporate office, Dikwena Chrome, Ferrometals, Ferroveld, Middelburg Ferrochrome, TC Smelter, Tubatse Alloy and Tubatse Ferrochrome, according to Solidarity.
South Africa is the world’s largest producer of chrome ore, a stainless steel ingredient, yet the domestic processing industry — particularly smelting operations — ceded its title as the biggest producer of ferrochrome to China in 2012 because of inconsistent and insufficient electricity supply.
Companies including Glencore Plc, whose ferrochrome venture said earlier this month it would cut jobs at its last active smelter, have cited rising electricity prices as a key factor behind the sector’s decline. Samancor explained that it tried cost-cutting, but it was unable to turn the loss-making operations around, Solidarity said. A required consultation process with trade unions, aimed at mitigating job losses, is set to begin in early January. – Fullview.
