Home affairs HQ to move

2011-11-04 19:45

Pretoria - The home affairs department is set to relocate its headquarters back to Pretoria city centre, director general Mkuseli Apleni said on Friday.

"We will soon be relocating from Waltloo [east of Pretoria] to Hallmark building in the city," he told reporters in Pretoria.
He said the location of the new building, in the city centre, would make the department's head office more accessible.
The building had been leased for the next seven years, and the rent was the same the department was paying at present.
"Plans for the move have been finalised and it will take place in phases, from November 17 to December 22. Arrangements are in place to minimise disruption of service."
Apleni did not reveal the cost of the lease or from whom the building had been leased. He said the lease had been signed by the department of public works.
Details of the lease could not immediately be obtained from this department.
The department of home affairs also announced that its Port Elizabeth refugee reception centre would be relocated.
Local businesses, who viewed the centre "as a nuisance factor", obtained a court order ordering the existing facility's closure.
Apleni said the department was looking for a new location for the refugee centre.
He could not say when the existing centre would close.

- SAPA
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