Work on home of new police headquarters ahead of schedule
The Telkom towers currently face repairs and renovations to socket outlets, minor storm-water works and water proofing, mainly in a section of the building dubbed the Annex building, in the north towers.
Work to move the police headquarters to Telkom Towers in Pretoria is ahead of schedule and near completion.
This was according to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.
The department said the building currently faces repairs and renovations to socket outlets, minor storm-water works and waterproofing, mainly in a section of the building dubbed the Annex building.
The R645-million building at 152 Johannes Ramokhoase Street comprises 10 buildings that measure 221 954 square metres of lettable office accommodation and hosts 2 234 parking bays.
Departmental spokesperson Thami Mchunu said they were fast-tracking the repairs and renovations ahead of the 2026 deadline.
“There have been two contracts to repair and renovate Telkom Towers South. The first was finalised in December 2021. The current project being undertaken by Coega at Telkom Towers North is ongoing.”
He said contractors were currently busy doing assessments onsite on the north side of the towers.
In March of this year, public works and infrastructure minister Sihle Zikalala visited the building complex in his drive to get it ready for occupation.
During his visit, Zikalala said there was more than enough space to accommodate the total requirements of the police.
The Telkom Tower complex was bought by the government in 2015 for over R600-million from the Telkom Retirement Fund when Telkom relocated its head office.
It was procured to be used for housing government departments.
The building later became a white elephant for nine years. Renovation suddenly started last year in preparation for the police headquarters move.
The department blamed aged ventilation systems and other issues for the delayed start of renovation work. Other problems that caused a delay in the move included the local community forcing a work stoppage in August 2019 over who would benefit from the project.
During his recent visit, Zikalala said the building was compliant and final work was being processed to ready the occupation by the police.
The minister has since expressed his satisfaction with the work done so far and urged the department to ensure that work was sped up to ready the site for occupation before the 2026 deadline.
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