10 Aug 2015

Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele says the Office of the President would move to Orapa House upon completion of the building refurbishment.

Answering a question in Parliament, Mr Makgalemele said he could not confirm when relocation would start and complete since the tender for the project  was currently being evaluated and a firm programme for the refurbishment would only be known upon completion of the evaluation.

He said the reason for the impending movement was the “acute shortage of the office accommodation being faced by the Office of the President.”

The tender for the project, he said was closed on July 22 and currently evaluation was on-going, adding they would be advised of the name of the contractor as well as the estimated cost of the refurbishment once the evaluation was complete.

Further, he said selective tendering method was followed for the tender and the Orapa House facility was procured through direct appointment at a cost of P88.5 million including Value Added Tax (VAT).

Selebi-Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had wanted the minister to update Parliament on the Office of the President movement to Orapa House and when relocation would start and complete. Mr Keorapetse also wanted to know what it would entail and reasons for movement.

He had also asked the minister to state which contractor(s) would refurbish the building and explain the tendering process followed and the estimated cost of the same as well as the procurement process and cost of the Orapa House. ENDS