R6.8-million spent a month on empty police headquarters in Pretoria

The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Public Works are incurring significant costs due to vacant police headquarters in Pretoria. The Telok Towers complex, originally purchased for R700-million, remains unoccupied since February 2024 due to health and safety concerns. The Department of Public Works has admitted that the complex is costing the public R6.8-million monthly.

In contrast, SAPS spends nearly R40-million monthly on renting premises in the city center. Only one of the nine buildings in Telok Towers was ever utilized by SAPS, while the remaining eight, costing at least R592-million, have been vacant. The Auditor-General has labeled this as a material irregularity. Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson initiated an investigation into the purchase in August 2024, and the police minister announced SAPS' withdrawal from Telok Towers in October 2024, seeking an alternative accommodation strategy.

The department estimates R1.6-billion would be required for refurbishment, and a public-private partnership is under consideration. However, MPs expressed dissatisfaction, questioning the lack of political will to relocate SAPS to the already purchased building. The exact monthly cost breakdown of the vacant complex remains unverified according to officials.