Allegations of mal-administration and corruption surround the R109-million tender for the “supply of intelligent water meters “.
The Democratic Alliance in Ekurhuleni said the report of the Public Protector’s probe into suspected tender fraud has confirmed what they have suspected all along.
DA Shadow MMC for Roads and Transport, Bill Rundle, is even more concerned that this fraud allegedly happened at the hands of City Manager, Kaya Ngema.
Rundle said he had noticed that repairs and maintenance of roads in the metro had come to a standstill and questions to ascertain reasons for this, posed to MMC Thumbu Mahlangu, elicited only vague and evasive answers.
“The lack of response from officials raised obvious red flags which led the party to believe there was some kind of cover-up in place,” said Rundle.
Rundle said it is quite clear that MMC Mahlangu has long since lost control of this vital service delivery department.
“Several sites in Etwatwa, Daveyton and Esselen Park Extension Three were started but not completed, which has been hugely inconvenient for residents, are just a few examples of a problem that spans the Metro.
“Storm water projects in flood areas have been hanging in the air for two years, despite a directive from a tribunal in 2012, to commence and complete the work as a matter of urgency.”
He said the court interdict preventing the metro from awarding any further contracts in certain areas explains a great deal.
He added that roads and related infrastructure development forms the basis of all economic development.
“The Aerotropolis and the Integrated Rapid Transport Network (IRTN) seem to be little more than hot air from the Mayor and a pipe dream for the metro.”
Rundle said while the DA obviously supports a moratorium on the awarding of tenders while possible corruption is uncovered and resolved, the delays don’t help residents and motorists see or feel any difference in the roads they are using.
“As a result, the people of Ekurhuleni are stuck between a rock and a hard place, while corruption and fraud are being investigated and moratoriums are imposed; there is still no delivery of decent roads.”
The metro said it welcomes the investigation by the public protector probe.
“As a metro we take these matters serious and will fully co-operate with the Public Protector’s office.
“Furthermore, we will accept the findings of this investigation,” said metro media divisional head Mandlakazi Mpahlwa-Sigcawu.
Mpahlwa-Sigcawu said one of the municipality’s key strategic priorities is good governance, which clearly shows our intention to get rid of any sort of corruption in this metro.
“We already have a good working relationship with the SIU because we are committed to fighting the scourge of fraud and corruption in our city.”
Metro took the opportunity to “educate the public on its Supply Chain Management” processes, which are guided by National Treasury:
n All tenders above R200 000 are advertised and subjected to a competitive bid process.
n The Bid Evaluation Committee evaluates the bid and makes its recommendations to the Bid Adjudication Committee.
n The Bid Adjudication Committee then adjudicates the bid, and if it’s less than R10-million they make a final award but if it’s over R10-m, they make a recommendation to the City Manager who then applies himself and makes a decision based on the BAC’s recommendation.
