The executive mayor’s office provided facts available pertaining to the roll-out of chemical toilets in Ekurhuleni, following a media report by AmaBhungane into the rapid increase in sanitation expenditure and alleged lack of municipal oversight with regard to the roll-out of chemical toilets in the metro.
On May 30, the metro released a response to the AmaBhungane chemical toilets scandal article that “thoroughly clarified” issues pertaining to supply-chain management processes, the metro’s pro-poor government Agenda and the financial implications associated with rapid urban migration.
On May 31, executive mayor Mzwandile Masina explained to AmaBhungane journalist Tabelo Timse that the tender was awarded in 2016, prior to his assuming office.
ALSO READ:
Gaze at the stars with East Rand Astronomy Club
These are the following facts provided:
• All service providers are appointed following supply-chain management (SCM) processes that are highly regulated and transparent.
The metro runs a transparent SCM process and the bid adjudication committee is open to the public. This process is also subject to scrutiny by the metro’s internal audit department and the auditor general of South Africa.
During the 2017/18 financial year, no audit findings were issued for maladministration and wasteful expenditure.
• It is important to contextualise the increased expenditure for sanitation in the metro.
According to Statistics South Africa’s Mid-Year Population estimates in 2018, South Africa is estimated to receive a net immigration of 1.02 million people between 2016 and 2021.
Most international migrants settle in Gauteng (47.5 per cent), while the fewest are found in the Northern Cape (0.7 per cent).
Gauteng is considered the economic hub of the country, attracting international migrants, as well as domestic migrants from rural provinces such as Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
A large percentage of these migrants settle in Ekurhuleni in search of job opportunities in the manufacturing sector.
This has resulted in a rapid increase in the number of informal settlements in the metro, where basic sanitation must be provided, as stipulated in the Constitution under the Bill of Rights.
• The current administration came into office in late 2016 and adopted a pro-poor agenda, which is aimed at ensuring, among others, that people’s dignity is restored.
Following a petition received by legislature demanding more toilets in informal settlements, and continuous requests for such by members of the community during campaigning for the 2016 local government elections, the leadership prioritised sanitation in informal settlements.
When the leadership came into office in August 2016, the ratio stood to at one toilet per 10 structures. As part of the ANC’s localised manifesto, a decision was taken that this must be improved to 1 toilet per 5 structures – an intervention that has been appreciated by the beneficiaries, therefore increase the quality of toilets used by the public.
• The metro had to correct an unacceptable abnormality in the supply-chain process of rendering this service, where there was one supplier rendering the service to all 119 informal settlements in the metro.
There are now 16 contractors rendering the service after the metro unbundled the tender to ensure efficiency in the provision of this service, particularly to informal settlements.
Following the due process of the metro’s SCM policy, the outcome was that 16 bidders qualified and all of them were appointed.
This followed an inspection undertaken by the metro to determine that they met the specification – and they did.
These companies invoice the municipality as per the rates approved in the bid document.
• Following an internal study, the metro is set to introduce a baseline rate for the weekly servicing of toilets.
Furthermore, the metro will soon utilise an average market-related pricing regimen for monthly rental fees for a single toilet unit.
Details will be provided to the public, following the issuing of the new tender for chemical toilets.
In line with previous statements to this effect, the executive mayor has once again reiterated his commitment to fighting corruption and maladministration within the metro.
Reports regarding poor workmanship in the delivery of chemical toilets throughout the metro will be further investigated through the relevant oversight committees and random visits to communities through the Siyaqhuba Accelerated Service Delivery Programme.
