South africa: The Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure has issued a call for urgent measures to fortify Operation Bring Back (OBB) to ensure that government properties are returned to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), which oversees state-owned properties.
According to African Press Organization, the committee was briefed by the DPWI on the progress of implementing Operation Bring Back, along with input from the Property Management Trading Entity (PMTE) regarding pending legislation. Operation Bring Back's primary objective is to recover state properties that are illegally occupied or unlawfully transferred. The DPWI highlighted significant challenges, including illegal building occupations, land invasions, and unauthorized commercial use of state-owned properties.
The department disclosed that it had allocated R237 million to four service providers tasked with identifying, auditing, analyzing, evicting occupants from, and recovering illegally occupied properties. The committee learned that, out of 1,285 potential recoveries, only 20 properties had been successfully reclaimed by the DPWI. Committee members expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of recoveries and were concerned about the lack of information regarding the condition of the recovered properties.
Concerns were also raised by the committee regarding reported payment disputes with service providers involved in Operation Bring Back. Members noted that the DPWI indicated some recovered properties might need to be sold at market value. The committee recommended that, before any such decisions, detailed information on each property's value and intended use be provided.
Further warnings were issued by committee members about the risk of the program failing due to ongoing disputes with service providers over unpaid dues. They noted that, despite the program's decade-long existence, results have been limited. Disagreements over work completed and amounts claimed by service providers were highlighted as key issues. The committee urged the DPWI to find practical solutions urgently to prevent the program's collapse and to preserve the progress made.
Additionally, the committee recommended the DPWI explore innovative mechanisms to expedite the disposal of properties, acknowledging the current process as lengthy and challenging.