The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has released 24 state-owned properties located across South Africa for requests for proposals from public and private entities.
The requests for proposals follow a historic memorandum of understanding (MoU) which was signed by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, KwaZulu-Natal MEC Martin Meyer and eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba to use public assets for the public good.
The release of the 24 properties for requests for proposal mark a shift for the department where the state previously retained high-value properties despite the properties serving no purpose.
A month after the signing of the MoU to use public assets for public good, the DPWI this week released underutilised state-owned properties located nationwide for requests for proposals.
In a statement on Wednesday, the department said that this marks phase one of the programme.
Members of the public and private entities now have until the 13th of March 2025 to make proposals on how these properties can be utilised to ensure that they contribute to the public good, help ignite job creation and add value to their communities.
After the 13 March, the requests for proposals will be evaluated to consider which are feasible before moving ahead with the process which may include long-term leases, public-private partnerships or selling the assets.
“This marks a major milestone for the Department in the 7th Administration where we will make good on our promise to invite private and public role-players on this scale to bring us proposals on how these properties can be utilised towards truly benefitting the people of South Africa, either through repurposing or redevelopment,” Minister Macpherson said.
He added that where feasible, the State may partner with the private sector to ensure that properties contribute to economic growth and job creation.
“We believe these properties will attract significant investment and jobs through their redevelopment.
“We are hoping to use these properties as an example of what can be achieved with underutilised state-owned properties country-wide, and we will soon be signing similar memorandums of understanding with other metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng and the Western Cape to expand the process.
“This process signals a shift from the department that previously hung onto properties despite serving no purpose. With this programme, the era of state-owned buildings standing empty, attracting crime to communities and chasing away investment is ending,” he explained.
In this round, 24 properties were released for request for proposal located nationwide, with additional properties to be considered for release for request for proposal pending the success of this round.
The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and the provincial DPWI are following similar processes with the underutilised properties they own.
“I would like to applaud the department public officials under the leadership of the head of the Property Management Trading Entity, Mr Siza Sibande, whose team have worked tirelessly over the past few weeks to help make our vision of using public assets for the public good.
“By working together with the Municipality and the Provincial Government, we are charting a new course for how state-owned properties can be utilised to serve the people of South Africa,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
