Tender wars ignite violence leaving three people injured
Rivalry between two groups over government tenders in the province this week resulted in three people having to receive medical treatment
POLOKWANE – This, after an altercation broke out prior to a meeting aimed at empowering local contractors.
The meeting, at a luxurious hotel in the city, was planned between a big construction group, the South African Roads Agency (Sanral) and the Radical Economic Transformation Forum (RETF).
Shortly after an initial briefing between the two companies, a physical fight broke out, which resulted in the empowerment meeting being cancelled.
You might also want to read: EFF’s Jossey Buthane to next appear in September
“It is all out war about tenders in Limpopo now. Members are beating up rivals in Polokwane. There is blood on the floor. The blood of greed.”
This Facebook entry, one of many, reflects the sentiments of the rivalry between members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Radical Economic Transformation Forum (RETF).
On Monday, two REFT members and a Polokwane ward councillor had to be taken for medical treatment.
A video clip of the attack by EFF members is going viral on social media.
https://www.facebook.com/mabotjat/videos/10215948504370660/
Work relating to municipal contracts in the CBD and Sanral, has been halted by REFT members who have been intimidating workers since 8 May.
Municipal Spokesperson Matshidiso Mothapo confirmed that REFT members visited all project sites in Polokwane and Seshego and that work was stopped for a few days last week.
He said this had serious financial implications, as workers do not get paid if they don’t work and that penalties cannot be enforced as external forces were responsible for the work stoppages. He said he has seen workers who have resumed their jobs.
The municipality interdicted the RETF on 11 May from disrupting contractors, and from attending IDP consultations.
The organisation demands the municipality gives preference to local small, medium and micro enterprises in terms of tenders, and use local labour in their projects, and implement and monitor the 30% local beneficiation policy and create a transparent database of local businesses for the purpose of sub-contracting.
Work on Sanral’s ringroad on the northeastern side of the city has also been halted due to intimidation of workers by the REFT.
Jossey Buthane, EFF Provincial Secretary, was pointed out by Thabo Mabotja, Spokesperson for the RETF as the culprit behind Monday’s violence, but he has since denied claims of criminal conduct, saying he called for calm during the violent confrontation.
Buthane said EFF members were defending themselves: “We did not cause the violence, we were provoked. They wanted to fight us, and we defended ourselves,” Buthane claimed.
In a press statement, he accused the RETF of harrassing black businesspeople in Limpopo and closing down their businesses. He said the newly formed organisation was using radical economic transformation to settle political scores, claiming that a mayor and a provincial ANC leader were behind the RETF.
“The EFF in Limpopo is committed to defending the defenceless black businesses of Limpopo.”
Mabotja said the fight occurred before a meeting between themselves, Sanral and the construction company “to finalise a business deal aimed at empowering local contractors”.
He said the RETF was trying to ensure that companies that are awarded tenders of more than R30 million, give 30% to local contractors as dictated by government policy.
A delegate from Sanral confirmed the meeting was called off as the EFF arrived, saying “things got very messy”.
According to the RETF, they were alerted by a security guard that one of their members was being assaulted.
“The RETF will make it their business to ensure that the EFF faces the full wrath of the law. We are going to open a case of attempted murder, theft and the pointing of a fire arm.”
According to the police, two cases of assault were opened, and one for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
