The proceeds from the sale will accrue to the provincial fiscus and will be redirected to economic development programmes and infrastructure projects such as schools and clinics.
The identification of the 242 properties follows a revelation that the provincial cabinet has taken a decision that 1 200 properties, with a current book value of R360-million, are to be disposed of.
The public works properties are situated across the province and include residential sites in Walmer, Summerstrand, Malabar, Kabega Park, Bethelsdorp and Lorraine in Port Elizabeth, as well as Blue Horizon Bay, Uitenhage, Despatch, Jeffreys Bay and Grahamstown.
There are also a number of properties in the much sought-after Hamburg area, most of which are vacant land.
In terms of the provincial State Land Disposal Act, the disposal of immovable assets must lead to "significant transformation with respect to broad-based black economic empowerment, land restitution, urban renewal and rural development".
The Act prescribes that the disposal committee must adjudicate and submit recommendations to the department bid committee. The Tender Review Committee will adjudicate bids that are above R5- million while values below that will be approved by the head of department.
Consideration will also be given to whether existing properties could be improved or rezoned in order to increase their value, creating temporary jobs in the process.
Eastern Province Herald
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge
