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The continuous deterioration of the Union Buildings as a National Key Point has raised various concerns to the surrounding community and poses a threat to tourism within the capital city of South Africa. Over the last few months, the Democratic Aliiance ward councillor Leanne de Jager, together with our counterpart in the National Assembly, the Deputy Shadow Minister for Public Works, Madeleine Hicklin, embarked on various oversight visits as fact finding missions to address the problems.

We found a crumbling infrastructure and continued occupation of the Union Buildings by various vagrants. The historic brick paving was damaged by vehicle accidents, perimeter fencing have been removed/damaged and the invasions of various portions of the lawn by vagrants have become a sore eye and a tragedy, considering that thousands of tourists visit this historic key point on a monthly basis.

The Union Buildings, as a National Keypoint, falls under the auspices of the Department of Public Works and this department will be required to initiate a legal process for eviction. The Democratic Alliance submitted questions to the Minister for Public Works to determine what plans and processes have been put in place to initiate this eviction and restore the Union Buildings to its initial state.

Minister Patricia de Lille responded and confirmed that the legal process for eviction has been initiated and that as an interim measure the Union Buildings have been closed for public visits to ensure that there is no further damage to the property until such a time that the problems have been addressed legally.

The Democratic Alliance, however, cannot wait until such a time that the National Department of Public Works cleans up the lawns and surrounding areas, and we have therefore engaged the City of Tshwane, SAPS and the Arcadia CID to embark on our own clean-up campaigns. The first of these clean-up campaigns was held on Wednesday 22 June, and an agreement was reached that this will continue on a regular basis.

The entire Ziervogel Street was cleaned and three truck loads of waste removed. We will continue to take such action for the safety and security and cleanliness of workers and residents at the Akademie, the Zambian High Commission and Ou Stalshoogte and surrounding buildings.

If the National Department cannot restore the dignity of the Arcadia community, then we have no choice but to put these interim measures in place as an attempt to prevent complete deterioration of the area. Our communities deserve better and our National Key Points should be protected.

Issued by Leanne De Jager - DA City of Tshwane Ward 92 Councillor