Handy Man gets R1 000 000.00 retainer a month

Documents released to SAHA through the Promotion of Access to Information Act reveal that, Autumn Star, a maintenance services company, is on a R1 000 000.00 monthly retainer.

The retainer is for the maintenance of the newly renovated Civitas Building which serves as the Department of Health's headquarters. The maintenance company has been awarded a tender by the Department of Public Works (DPW) which "owns" the building and is thus tasked with managing and maintaining it.

Currently it is not clear what exactly the companies' responsibilities are other than to "make sure that the building is well maintained."

Originally constructed in the 1971, the refurbishment of the 31-story building costs neared R580 million after construction and was completed in April 2009.

However, one must give credit to DPW for their progressive plans to invest in buildings instead of hiring them on behalf of government departments. Nonetheless, the quality of the build or refurbish should be of such a high quality that even 3 years later, the public is not footing a R1-million retainer a month for a handy man.

For more information contact the Freedom of Information Programme at SAHA.