Acquisition of alternative office space media statement by Justice and Constitutional Development and Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster Chairperson, Minister Jeff Radebe

I have in the past few weeks dealt with the issue around the acquisition of office space for the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development through a response to a parliamentary question. Additional information and/or reasons for that decision could shed more light as why it was necessary to acquire office space elsewhere.

For the reasons that include structural growth and the need to accommodate staff in an environment that must promote productivity and efficiency, it became necessary to acquire alternative office space. This decision was informed by accommodation challenges that could negatively impact on the ability of the department to discharge its mandate in an effective manner.

As a result we sought alternative accommodation for the Office of the State Attorney: Pretoria and the Office of the Master of the High Court: Pretoria. In addition the Department also required additional accommodation to accommodate the recent growth in human resources in the National Office structure.  

The Office of the State Attorney: Pretoria is currently accommodated in the Manaka Heights Building, (formerly known as the Bothongo Heights Building). The lease has expired and the building was bought by a new landlord, who has given the department notice to vacate the building, as the landlord will be leasing the whole building to a new tenant.  

The Office of the Master of the High Court: Pretoria is currently accommodated at the Sanlam Forum Building. This is also a leased building and the department has received a number of complaints regarding the general maintenance of the building. The Office of the Master of the High Court: Pretoria also required additional accommodation, which could not be made available in the Sanlam Forum Building. There was a need to relocate that Office to a bigger building, with enough space to accommodate the structural growth of that Office.

The human resource at the National Office component of the department has also increased significantly. This is reflected by the fact that the department is currently occupying three different buildings in Pretoria that make up the National Office.  The current three buildings being leased by the department could not accommodate the growth, hence the need to lease another building.

The sections that are to move to the new building are the Office of the State Attorney: Pretoria, the Office of the Master of the High Court: Pretoria and a certain section of the National Office component, namely the Ministry, Director-General’s Office, Chief Operations Officer’s Office and all Offices of the Deputy Directors-General.

The Office of the State Attorney: Pretoria is currently housed at the Manaka Heights Building (formerly known as the Bothongo Heights Building). The Office of the Master of the High Court: Pretoria is currently housed in the Sanlam Forum Building and the National Office components (the Ministry, Director-General, Chief Operations Officer and all Deputy Directors-General) are currently housed at the Momentum Centre Building.  All three mentioned premises are rented buildings.