It is responsible for public infrastructure as well as providing accommodation and property management services to all the other ministries of the South African government.

It is also responsible for promoting the national Expanded Public Works Programme and for encouraging the transformation of the construction and property industries in South Africa.

In 2014 a spokesperson for the official opposition, David Maynier of the DA, described the department as "monumentally incompetent", and asked that it be kicked out of the SANDF.

[3] Questions were also raised about non-contractual rent payments by the department to Armscor.

[4] In 2024, following the ministerial appointment of Dean Macpherson, an ongoing R300 million cyber crime was uncovered.