Major plan to renovate capital offices

THE Eastern Cape government plans to cut down on building lease costs by renovating all its Bhisho offices and possibly building more to accommodate every department in the provincial capital.

This was announced by Finance MEC Phumulo Masualle in his budget yesterday.

He said the public works programme was being allocated R3.7-billion over the next three years.

"The need for office space in Bhisho and surrounding areas has increased substantially. The high demand coupled with limited supply has led to provincial government paying substantial amounts in lease costs. A major focus for the next three years is to implement the Bhisho office park, modernise Bhisho buildings, and, where feasible, build [our] own buildings on available government land. - Mkhululi Ndamase