The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:
1. I have been informed by the Department that Excelsior Court has not been handed back to DPWI from the South African Police Services. The SAPS has reported that a court process is underway to evict the illegal occupants. The Department is still waiting for SAPS to finalise their eviction process.
2. (a) The Department does not have records of occupants of the building and is unable to provide accurate number thereof.
(b) SAPS Legal Services is in the process of evicting the illegal occupants through the Court Process.
3. The Department has not commenced with the assessment of the building due to illegal occupation.
(a) Several attempts were made to conduct routine maintenance on the property, but unfortunately property/items are repeatedly being vandalised and damaged by the occupants. DPWI is unable to take full responsibility in safe-guarding the property and it has no control over management due to continuous intimidation by the occupants. The SAPS was requested to prohibit persons from walking in the danger zone.
(b) The Department is unable to accurately respond on the time frame due to the court process on eviction of illegal occupants pursued by the SAPS.
(c) Upon finalisation of eviction process, the Department shall embark on an exercise to determine the highest and best use of the facility.
(d) (i) The Department does not have plans to alienate the property.
(ii) The Department shall conduct a full condition assessment of the facility once the eviction process is concluded by SAPS.