The vacant Telkom Towers complex in Pretoria is costing the state about R6.8 million a month, while the South African Police Service (SAPS) is spending nearly R40 million a month renting premises in the city‑centre, the department of public works told MPs on Wednesday.
Parliamentary scrutiny over cost and delay
Officials from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure were questioned during a meeting of the portfolio committee for public works and infrastructure about the long‑running issue. The Telkom Towers property was purchased in 2016 for nearly R700 million and was evacuated in February 2024 owing to health and safety concerns. It has remained vacant since.
Only one of the complex’s nine buildings was ever occupied by SAPS. The other eight buildings, which the department says cost at least R592 million, have stood empty. The Auditor‑General has flagged the acquisition as a material irregularity, and the public works minister, Dean Macpherson, launched an investigation into the purchase in August 2024.
In October 2024 the minister of police announced that SAPS would withdraw from the Telkom Towers complex and pursue “an alternative accommodation strategy”. Public Works deputy‑director general Mandla Sithole told the committee that the department was exploring options, including a possible public‑private partnership to address the building’s condition.
Leases and costs in Pretoria
Sithole told MPs that SAPS currently holds 68 leases in Pretoria. Of these, 22 leases in the city centre cost about R444 million a year and cover roughly 150,000 square metres of office space and 2,000 parking bays.
That annual figure equates to close to R37 million a month for city‑centre leases alone, while the department confirmed the Telkom property continues to incur carrying costs of about R6.8 million each month. The department estimates that refurbishment of the Telkom complex would require about R1.6 billion.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Purchase price (2016) | Nearly R700 million |
| Vacant buildings (cost attributed) | At least R592 million |
| Monthly cost to hold Telkom Towers | R6.8 million |
| Annual city‑centre lease costs (SAPS) | R444 million |
| Estimated refurbishment cost | R1.6 billion |
MPs press for action
Opposition and committee members pressed officials on the delays and the continuing expense of renting while an acquired property stands unused. Nkosinathi Nxumalo of the MK party criticised the inaction, saying the problem was not capacity but political will.
“It’s not a lack of money or expertise, it’s a lack of political will to simply move SAPS into the building we already bought for them,”
Bonginkosi Madikizela of the Democratic Alliance asked why the two relevant ministers had not met sooner to resolve the impasse. Officials said they were awaiting the finalisation of certain processes before arranging meetings.
- Telkom Towers was bought in 2016 and evacuated in February 2024 for health and safety reasons.
- Only one of nine buildings was used by SAPS; the remainder remain empty but continue to attract costs.
- Public Works is exploring refurbishment and public‑private partnership options, with refurbishment pegged at about R1.6 billion.
The situation raises questions about asset management, interdepartmental coordination and the fiscal implications of parallel spending — continuing to rent substantial office space while an owned facility remains unused. The Auditor‑General’s designation of the purchase as a material irregularity means the matter will remain under scrutiny as Parliament awaits the outcome of the public works investigation and any decisions by the ministers involved.
Public Works said it intends to meet with the minister of police to discuss the way forward; no date for such a meeting was provided at the committee session.
