The Gauteng state house in Bryanston costs about R1.5m a year to run and was used for about 50 meetings last year.
|||Johannesburg - The Gauteng state house in Bryanston, Sandton, costs about R1.5 million a year to run and was used for about 50 meetings last year - an average cost of about R30 000 a meeting.
“The Gauteng government is currently considering various proposals on the future of all non-core assets and fixed properties,” Premier David Makhura told the Gauteng legislature last week, following questions by DA MPL Jack Bloom.
“The future of this house will be considered, together with all non-core assets and fixed properties owned by the Gauteng government.”
The house was formerly used as the residence for the premier, but Makhura does not live there, using it only as a meeting venue. Millions of rand have been spent on buying, fixing and running the house.
Makhura said the house was used to host more than 50 engagements and meetings since last year, but would not provide details. “There is really no need to provide such details,” he insisted.
“The house is used principally for official business wherein the premier engages with various sectors, stakeholders, departments, municipalities and foreign missions.”
The cost of all official meetings is budgeted for by the Office of the Premier, said Makhura.
“It would have cost more to use alternative venues,” he said.
Last week, The Star reported that the Gauteng provincial budget tabled in the legislature last week lists the expected capital expenditure costs, for maintenance, for the upcoming year for the house as R500 000.
Total maintenance costs for the previous years are listed as R6.036m. This excludes the running costs.
Bloom said the use did not justify the cost, and it would be more cost effective to use the province's Emoyeni conference centre in Parktown as the cost of the Bryanston house worked out at about R30 000 for each meeting.
He said the annual running costs, detailed in previous replies to the legislature, were about R1m a year, including gardening at R309 000, cleaning at R300 000, lights and water at R227 000, and rates and taxes at R195 000.
“The total yearly cost, together with the R500 000 maintenance cost in the latest budget, means that this house costs at least R1.5m a year,” said Bloom.
“What private householder would spend so much on maintenance every year?”
Bloom has submitted an application under the Promotion of Access to Information Act for more information on the meetings at the house.
There is really no need to provide such details
louise.flanagan@inl.co.za
The Star