Macpherson says 8,465 government buildings need urgent attention as maintenance bill hits R28bn - IOL

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says 8,465 government-owned buildings are in poor or critical condition, with the maintenance backlog estimated at approximately R28 billion.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says 8,465 government buildings are currently classified as being in poor or critical condition, with the maintenance backlog estimated at about R28 billion.

Macpherson provided the figures in response to a parliamentary question from Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) MP Siphosethu Ngcobo, who asked about the condition of government-owned properties, funded maintenance plans and the department’s timeline for addressing the backlog.

The minister said the 8,465 buildings, as of August 1, 2026, represented 10.8% of the total government property portfolio.

Macpherson said day-to-day maintenance was the responsibility of user departments and was carried out through their devolved budgets.

An estimated 50% of government buildings classified as being in poor or critical condition were registered for refurbishment.

However, there is no confirmed timeline for addressing the full maintenance backlog, and the backlog would require substantial additional funding, with refurbishment plans dependent on budget confirmation from National Treasury and user departments.

“Notwithstanding the projects which are in execution, the maintenance backlog of approximately R28 billion will require substantial capital injection, and therefore the scheduling of a timeline and refurbishment plans are subject to the confirmation of budget by the National Treasury and user departments.”

Macpherson said the scale of the maintenance backlog was one of the reasons the department had proposed establishing the South African National Property Company.

He said the proposed entity would be a dedicated, commercially driven institution with ringfenced revenue and the technical skills needed to operate a property company.

“The SANPC will make use of innovative PPP-models that will maintain, refurbish and construct new assets that will maximise revenue for the country well into the future.”