Pretoria - The Department of Public Works is set to embark on an ambitious programme that will see it invest in repairs and maintenance of government buildings, which will result in huge savings for the state.
The programme, announced by Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde on Wednesday during her inaugural Budget Vote in Parliament, will be undertaken by the department in three years.
"Investment in repair and maintenance, continuous maintenance and construction of new government buildings could generate major savings for the state ... This will also include ensuring the relocation of national departments to state owned buildings where it is feasible to do so," said Mahlangu-Nkabinde.
She noted that the leasing portfolio was costing the state a lot of money, where in the past year alone, her department spent billions in leases and functional accommodation for client departments.
