For seven years, promises of the much-needed facelift have done little to change the crumbling reality inside the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court.

Now, after repeated delays, missed deadlines and years of complaints, the latest refurbishment plan has pushed the finish line even further away – to October 2029.

It has been seven years since the Boksburg Advertiser first exposed the sad and deteriorating condition of the criminal justice facility, yet the promised refurbishment remains just that, a promise.

Deteriorating infrastructure, persistent leaks and flooding, dirty holding cells, corroded and broken pipes, peeling paint, unsavoury toilets and damp basement floors remain among the problems plaguing the court, according to concerned court users.

The basement, in particular, remains a major concern, with persistent flooding during the rainy season and an unpleasant odour reportedly emanating from the area and permeating parts of the facility.

For employees who have raised concerns about the condition of the facility over the years, the latest update from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) represents yet another promise in a saga that has stretched back to beyond 2019.

Another promise, another deadline
This publication has again reached out to DPWI for an update on the project, and the department confirmed that a tender for the long-awaited refurbishment was re-advertised and closed in February 2026.

While the tender evaluation has been completed, a contractor has still not been appointed.

According to the DPWI, the project is now awaiting confirmation of funding from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development before it can proceed to adjudication.

The department expects the contractor to be appointed by October 23, with the site handed over and construction commencing by October 30.
If that happens, construction is expected to run from November 2026 until October 2029.

The refurbishment scope remains unchanged and includes roof and structural repairs, sewer upgrades, new windows and doors, a backup generator and air-conditioning units, ablution upgrades, perimeter fencing and temporary accommodation during construction.

The department said the lengthy construction period takes into account both the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court and Boksburg Family Court, with the work to be carried out in phases to ensure both courts remain operational during construction.

A seven-year wait
The Advertiser first reported on the condition of the magistrate’s court in 2019 after employees raised concerns about health and safety at the facility, particularly the damp, flooded and foul-smelling holding cells in the basement.

Following the report, then DPW spokesperson Thami Mchunu said a major refurbishment had been initiated, with a contractor expected to be appointed by February or March 2020.
That deadline came and went without construction beginning.

More promises, more delays
In 2023, the department again promised progress, saying the project was expected to go out to tender in June, with site handover planned for August.

The Magistrate’s Court was expected to be completed by June 2025, followed by the Family Court in June 2026.

Neither deadline was met.
The DPWI later blamed budget constraints and later difficulties in appointing a contractor, before announcing that the tender would be re-advertised.

The latest timeline now puts completion in October 2029 – a decade after the Advertiser first exposed the court’s deteriorating condition.

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