One South African police station cost R63 million to renovate – and it’s still not done

The Park Road Police Station in Bloemfontein, Free State, has been under renovation for eight years and has cost R62.86 million.

This was revealed in a Parliamentary response from the Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson.

On 20 November 2024, Macpherson responded to questions from EFF MP Sharon Letlape, who asked the minister how much this product has cost and why it has been delayed for so long.

The minister replied that the total amount paid to date since the project’s inception is R62,856,601.

This includes the contractor’s expenditures, professional fees, and Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) Management fees.

He explained that the delay in completing this project is due to the fact that the initial contractor appointed in 2017, Soaring Summit Development, could not complete the project due to poor performance on site.

In 2019, they opted to cede the contract to another construction company, Ikaheng Plant Hire Developers. 

However, Ikaheng Plant Hire Developers could not proceed with the project from the onset and opted to terminate the appointment.

Following this, the DBSA re-advertised the project, and Mpfumelelo Business Enterprise was appointed as a successful bidder and commenced the works in January 2021. 

The minister explained that the project progressed well in the initial stages but later slowed down for various reasons.

These reasons ranged from slow progress on site to late payments and withdrawals of professional service providers on site, which were eventually resolved.

Mpfumelelo Business Enterprise continued providing services on-site at a very minimal pace and eventually terminated its services in April 2024 due to three delayed payments that could not be processed on time to the Public Works Department by DBSA. 

“The termination was done by invoking the relevant contractual clauses for the breach of contract on late payments,” Macpherson explained. 

“The delayed payments were for services rendered. The process to appoint a replacement contractor to complete the work is underway.”

He said that the DBSA, as the implementing agent, is currently procuring a replacement contractor after the current contractor’s termination. 

The project was advertised from 27 September 2024 to 18 October 2024, and the planned date of appointing the replacement contractor was 25 November 2024. 

DBSA plans to hand over the site to the successful bidder on 9 December 2024, and the project is scheduled to be completed within an eighteen-month construction period. 

Therefore, the expected practical completion date is May 2025.

Macpherson said his department is in the process of recovering the costs suffered due to the termination of the contractor, which did not complete the project. 

“The DBSA, through their legal department, have engaged the contractor to recoup the amount of R22,314,111.00 suffered as final damages,” he said.

“The Minister is also looking at mechanisms to bar businesses and directors mentioned from doing business with the state.”

The Bloemfontein Courant reported in March 2022 that the project was started to make Park Road Police Station a “state-of-the-art” station.

Visible Policing Commander Colonel Andiswa Myeki told the publication that residents could also look forward to better and faster service, saying the improvements would better the station’s workflow.

She explained that the structures around the station were outdated and that 43 new offices would be added to the police station.

“The charge office will also get a facelift, as well as an extension, which will provide more space to assist members of the public,” the publication reported. 

“The K9 unit will also get a new facility. Myeki added that the new K9 building, the guards’ offices, and new certification offices will be completed by the middle of next month.”