Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala has ordered an investigation into the procurement practices associated with the renovations of properties occupied by public officials.

The Minister has decried the inflated costs attributed to the maintenance of these houses and has demanded an explanation for some of these procurement practices.

This follows revelations of a R1.4-million kitchen renovation, the procurement of curtains to the value of R54 000 and a fumigation cost of R240 000 on State properties in Pretoria and Cape Town, which he said looked to be inflated prices.

“Our procurement legislative regime is very clear and it excludes participation of elected representatives in matters of procurement. The panel will look into the pricing practices, procurement related to maintenance, and do comparisons,” Zikalala said.

Further, he has suggested that the amplification of wrongdoing associated with the maintenance of State properties discredits the leadership of government.

“We wish to assure the public that there is no political principal who is involved with the excessive finishes and all of us as government abhor any excessive conduct with taxpayers’ money especially at this time when we are deploying resources to core services,” Zikalala said.

The Minister will advise the President on the steps the department is taking to investigate and eradicate questionable procurement practices associated with the maintenance of government properties.