Johannesburg - The Gauteng provincial government will rent new offices in the Johannesburg CBD even though it owns 20 other properties in the same area, the Star newspaper reported on Thursday.
The Gauteng infrastructure department was looking for three sets of office space in the CBD, which was put to tender last month, according to the newspaper.
The department confirmed the offices would be a provision for the Gauteng provincial government and that the department owns the 20 vacant properties.
Department spokesperson Ramona Baijnath said: "The (20) buildings are still under construction and far from completion.
"There are departments which immediately need space since their current leases have expired or are due to expire."
She said the department had stopped renovating some of the properties due to budget constraints.
One government property, a building next to the ANC's Luthuli House headquarters, was being used for parking by the ANC, according to the newspaper.
The department confirmed it owns the property but did not know the ANC had taken it over.
Baijnath said the property's use would be determined and the occupancy investigated.
The newspaper asked ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza for a comment but said none was received.
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