The Department of Public Works has disclosed that vacant residential properties under its management are valued at nearly R800 million.
These properties are assessed based on their municipal rates, not market value, with plans underway to repurpose them.
Minister Dean Macpherson, in response to questions from Economic Freedom Fighters MP Vuyani Pambo, provided details on the status and future of the properties, The Citizen reported.
The department, responsible for managing government-owned properties, currently has 193 vacant residential properties across South Africa's nine provinces, with a total value of R792.9 million.
Gauteng leads with 56 vacant properties, followed by the Eastern Cape and Western Cape with 26 and 34, respectively. In the Western Cape, notable properties include a R6.3 million home in Langebaan and two properties in Cape Town valued at approximately R35 million each.
In Johannesburg, four properties valued between R3 million and R4.8 million are listed, two of which will be transferred to the Department of Social Development, while the others will be leased for revenue generation.
High-value properties in other regions include a R2 million property in King William’s Town, a R6.8 million farm in KwaZulu-Natal, and two R9 million farms in KwaDukuza.
The department is actively working to repurpose these properties. Some will be leased, while others will be sold or allocated to other departments.
The figures provided do not account for properties currently under illegal occupation.
Macpherson's response indicated that 22 properties are set for disposal, nearly 50 for leasing, and the remainder will be repurposed or advertised for investment opportunities.
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