Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has called off a meeting scheduled for Wednesday with MPs to discuss a report on the controversial police headquarters at Telkom Towers in Pretoria.
Macpherson said the report was “completely inadequate”.
Telkom Towers, purchased in 2016 for nearly R700-million as the headquarters for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Pretoria, was evacuated due to health and safety concerns in February 2024.
The purchase was flagged by the Auditor-General, who found that only one of the nine buildings in the complex had ever been used by SAPS and the remaining vacant buildings had cost the government at least R592-million.
Macpherson launched an investigation in August 2024.
In September 2025, MPs on the Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure criticised the slow progress of the investigation. In November, Macpherson told Parliament that the investigation was complete.
But he has sent the report back twice already, noting that it did not clarify who was responsible for the debacle.
In response to GroundUp’s questions, public works spokesman Lennox Mabaso said the report had failed to identify the officials responsible.
He said the minister had directed that additional work be done to ensure that Parliament is presented with a comprehensive and actionable report.
Mabaso said Macpherson had indicated that the Telkom Towers project would be part of the newly announced South African National Property Company. The intention is to partner with the private sector and turn the property into a mixed-use asset.
Committee chair Carol Phiri (ANC), said the committee had “reluctantly” agreed to postpone the meeting. “There is nothing it can do if the department is not ready to present the forensic report,” she said.
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The #JusticeForTheDisplaced movement focuses on advocating for the rights of displaced individuals and communities.
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Fun South African Fact: South Africa’s drinking water is rated 3rd best in the world for being “safe and ready to drink”.
Blistered Outlaw
Van der Merwe is approached by SANRAL one day who want to build a new highway through his donkey farm. Van is really concerned with how his donkeys can get from one side of the farm to the other without having to cross the highway and risk being injured or killed. He is promised that they will build bridges the highway so that his donkeys can cross under the highway. Van agrees and gives them the go-ahead.
The highway is built and a year later the same rep goes to the farm to go see how Van and his donkeys are. He eventually finds Van under one of these bridges chipping away at the roof of the tunnel with a hammer and chisel.
\”Mnr Van de Merwe, what are you doing damaging the highway bridge?\”