Alleged tender fraud in Eden Park

Romano Lottering (49), a community leader in Eden Park, is concerned about the process that was followed when awarding a tender to build a community swimming pool in Eden Park.

According to Romano, the company that won the bid is not on the list of companies who applied for the tender. “This is blatant fraud and corruption. The company in question, Morateng, is owned by a retired MK Airforce vet, with no experience in this kind of field. When I asked him about this, he said he was appointed by the Development Bank, and when I asked for proof, he couldn’t show me. He is lying, simple as that. He knows nothing about this stuff.”

Kaya Ngema, the controversial city manager, was the person who put through the bid for Morateng to win the tender, and according to Romano, “Morateng’s Construction Development Board (CDB) license expired in September of last year, so that is more proof of the illegality of this tender. Ngema has been accused of mismanaging funds of around R15-billion and of tender irregularities of a further R109-million.”

In 2015, the South High Court found Ngema’s appointment to the position of city manager to be illegal. They gave the city council 21 days to sort out the issue. Not only did the council ignore this court judgement, but they went on to re-elect Ngema in his post for a contract term of three years, in spite of this too being illegal, as, according to law, it can only be extended for one year before the post must be advertised to attract a pool of professionals nationwide.

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality failed to comment, in spite of several attempts to contact them.