Mayor Masina says he is willing to cooperate with Gauteng government over toilet tender probe
“Government funds should not by any means be misappropriated nor used as ‘get-rich-quick scheme’ for cronies and dubious business people,” says MEC Maile.
An investigative report by AmaBhungane, ‘Toilet tender stinks: Ekurhuleni metro spent R1.9-billion on portable loos’, emerged last week that detailed alleged irregularities in the awarding of tenders to supply Ekurhuleni with portable toilets.
In the report, AmaBhungane alleged the project, where toilets were sourced from 16 small suppliers, was a get-rich-quick scheme for some underperforming contractors that left many a beneficiary with dirty and broken toilets.
In response to the report, MEC for Human Settlements, Urban Planning and COGTA Lebogang Maile wrote a formal letter to the mayor, Mzwandile Masina, last Wednesday, soliciting a detailed response to these glaring allegations which he viewed as grievous.
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“If indeed these allegations are true, there needs to be corresponding consequences.”
“Government funds should not by any means be misappropriated nor used as ‘get-rich-quick scheme’ for cronies and dubious business people,” says Maile.
The office of the mayor confirmed he received the letter last Wednesday and would respond within the prescribed seven days.
Spokesperson to the mayor Phakamile Mbengashe says the mayor remains committed to fully cooperating with the Gauteng Provincial Government and providing full transparency on the matter.
