Wyndham Hartley

CAPE TOWN — Legislation that will force all national and provincial government departments to make optimum use of existing immovable assets before embarking on further capital expansion was introduced to Parliament yesterday.

For years the use of immovable state assets has been a contentious issue as some government buildings stand vacant while new ones are built.

Some departments rent offices while government buildings are underused.

Chief operating officer in the public works department Sean Phillips told Parliament’s public works committee the Government Immovable Asset Management Bill had, as one of its principles, the optimum use of existing immovable assets before a decision was made on acquiring new ones.

He said the legislation would enable government, confronted with service delivery needs, to match these with efficient and effective use of resources.

He said the decision on immovable assets had long-term implications and should be based on the full impact of costs over the expected life span of the assets.

“It is imperative government’s immovable assets be managed in a uniform, efficient, effective and accountable manner,” Phillips said.

All government departments will have to produce annual management plans for their immovable assets.