The department and any of its entities have purchased or leased any buildings for its administration in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 and for the 2010-11 financial years

QOUTE

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 2231

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 23 OF 20 AUGUST 2010
Mr K S Mubu (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:

(1)       Whether her department and any of its entities have (a) purchased or (b) leased any buildings for its administration (i) in the (aa) 2008-09 and (bb) 2009-10 and (ii) for the 2010-11 financial years; if not, why not; if so, in each case, (aa) what is the cost of the building, (bb) what is the size of the building, (cc) why was it bought or leased, (dd) for what will it be used, (ee) who will occupy it and (ff) approximately how many persons will occupy the total space of each building;
(2)       whether her department and any of its entities intends on purchasing or leasing any buildings for its administration for the (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14 financial years; if not, why not; if so, in each case, (i) what is the cost of each building, (ii) what is the size of each building, (iii) why will it be bought  or leased, (iv) for what will it be used, (v) who will occupy it and (vi) approximately how many persons will occupy the total space of each building?  
      
REPLY:

The nature of the Department’s activities necessitates that it purchases/lease Chanceries (Offices), Official Residences and staff accommodation for all staff serving in South African Missions abroad. The Government is currently represented in 106 countries abroad, it has 123 Appointed Ambassadors / High Commissioners / Consul Generals and its overseas staff component consists of 656 transferred staff members

In respect of paragraph 1 part (a), (b) and (c)

During the year 2008 to 2011, the Department constructed 3 Chanceries, 1 Official Residence and 8 staff houses. It furthermore purchased 1 Official Residence and 1 staff house, purchased land for future development of a Chancery and Official Residence and funded the construction of a State Protocol lounge at the new Durban International Airport. The total cost of these transactions amount to R604 million.

In the 2008/09 financial year the Department leased offices and residence for 618 officials abroad. The total cost amounted to R483 million.
In 2009/10 f financial year the Department leased offices and residence for 646 officials abroad. The total cost amounted to R404 million.
In 2010/11 f financial year the Department leased offices and residence for 656 officials abroad. The amount budgeted for this purpose is R655 million.

In respect of paragraph 2 part (a), (b) and (c)

The Department will, in 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14 financial years, continue to purchase properties in line with its property acquisition strategy. Such purchases will be dependent on the availability of a capital budget as well as the availability of suitable properties

UNQOUTE