Freedom Park, in Salvokop, will house Statistics SA and the departments of correctional services and of human settlements. The Dipalopalo consortium, whose shareholders include Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon, Royal Bafokeng Astrapak and Servest, will build the 52000m2 office precinct.

Stats SA's 2549 employees currently operate from leased buildings, two in the Pretoria CBD and two in Pretoria West. Construction began in May. The building will have 28 meeting rooms, nine boardrooms and about 52 individual offices for executives. Stats SA's deputy director general for corporate services, Akhtari Henning, said the agency would occupy the space on a rent-to-own basis over 27 years.

The deal, he said, would save the state more than R85 million a year in rent. "All we have to do is pay our rent and the consortium does everything, from maintenance to providing security," she said.

Henning said other agreements reached with the consortium was to source 85% of materials from local suppliers, building of a child care facility for the community, promote skills development and target women and youth in construction.

Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe said the project signalled the start of the development of the Salvokop government precinct which will also house the human settlement and correctional services departments.