The provincial Hawks could face losing their premises in Mbombela as a long-running rental dispute between the property owner and the national Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) allegedly leaves about R1.6m in rent outstanding.

Property owner Johan Blom claimed he has not received rental payments since October 2025, despite the premises continuing to be occupied by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks.

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With the matter now before arbitration and no payment having been received despite repeated assurances, Blom said he has stopped maintaining the property at his own expense.

He warned that the continued failure to resolve the dispute could ultimately result in the Hawks having to leave the premises.

The potential loss of the facility raises concerns about the operational implications for the specialised crimefighting unit operating in Mpumalanga.

Landlord halts maintenance as debt mounts

According to Blom, the rental arrangement had functioned without major problems for about 10 years, with the Hawks having been among his most reliable tenants. He said the relevant lease agreements were signed and remain in place, and that he has followed the prescribed legal processes in attempting to recover the outstanding amount.

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Blom noted that he was repeatedly assured that the matter would be resolved, with the most recent payment undertaking being for August 7. That deadline allegedly passed without payment.

He said officials have attributed the delay to what was described to him as a financial-system error. However, according to Blom, the underlying rental debt has not been denied.

Department of Public Works yet to respond

The Hawks’ Mpumalanga provincial head, Major General Nico Gerber, was approached for comment about the rental dispute and the Hawks’ occupation of the premises. He indicated that he was not in a position to comment on the lease arrangements, referring the questions to the Hawks’ national office and officials directly involved with the lease.

He subsequently copied relevant national officials and the national Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) into correspondence.

The DPWI was then approached with detailed questions regarding the lease, the alleged outstanding rental and the payment arrangements. The department was specifically asked whether it acknowledges the R1.6m debt, whether the rental has been outstanding since October 2025 and whether a valid lease is in place.

It was also asked about the alleged financial-system error and whether funds had been allocated or transferred for the rental. At the time of publication, no substantive response had been received.