Premier’s Office in R260m facelift

premier’s office in r260m facelift


in a new age of austerity, the department of public works has undertaken a multi-million project that will see the premier’s office receiving a jacuzzi and a gymnasium.

cope has blasted the development, saying spending to uplift poor people should be a priority.

“the province is plagued by problems of underdevelopment and under-expenditure.

“we fail to see how this (project) will help the rural poor people,” said cope spokesperson nkosifikle gqomo.

the redesign of the 6 000m² office block – a private-public partnership that is part of the bhisho/king william’s town revitalisation programme – is set to cost about r260 million.

the three-storey building will have rooms for changing babies, a jacuzzi, gymnasium, a private lift for the premier, a creche and aftercare facility, underground parking and a bhisho massacre garden memorial.

project administrator for the public works department seutloali makhetha said they had originally expected the project to cost about r50m, but the cost had escalated.

“i must explain that this (r50m) figure was ... just a rough estimate in 2006,” said makhetha.

makhetha said 121 architectural companies had entered a competition to land a contract associated with the work, but only 31 had submitted designs.

the three shortlisted companies are the @129 group from johannesburg, comrie and wilkinson architects urban design and ikhuba, both from cape town.

the winner will be appointed as the architect for the lucrative project – to ensure the building is constructed according to plan, and get a r500 000 prize.

the companies that come second and third get r250 000 and r100 000 respectively.

attempts to get comment from the directors of comrie and wilkinson and ikhuba were unsuccessful.

project manager for @129, theodore kriel, said he was prohibited from commenting on the competition.

“the premier’s office block is going to be a prestigious building and the design has to be of the highest standard possible.

"the intention is to create a landmark building for the premier that resonates with the cultural values, aspirations and characteristics of the people of the eastern cape,” said makhetha.