POLOKWANE – The EFF in Limpopo expressed strong disapproval of the Polokwane Municipality’s recent decision to eliminate the tender system for small projects.
The party, which advocates for the complete abolition of tenders across all government levels, argues that the municipality should instead rely solely on permanent staff for these tasks.
According to Thipa Selala, the municipality’s spokesperson, the municipality’s decision was influenced by an Auditor-General report highlighting that municipalities have become overly dependent on contractors and consultants. This dependency, the report suggests, has led to inefficiencies and potential quality issues in municipal projects.
Mayor John Mpe elaborated that the move aims to prevent instances where contractors might “sabotage” the quality of work to secure ongoing maintenance contracts.
The municipality, he explained, found it more cost-effective to use internal staff for routine tasks such as cleaning and repairs at municipal facilities. Recent observations by Polokwane Observer confirmed municipal employees maintaining grass and trees at various precincts.
Additionally, the municipality recently terminated a five-year contract with a fleet company, which had a cost of R48m annually, as part of its cost-saving efforts.
In response, the EFF has accused the municipality of intending to reallocate funds previously used for low-maintenance contracts to benefit political leaders in the regional and municipal elections.
The party also called for all political parties represented in the municipal council to be involved in the insourcing process for small projects, citing concerns about past issues with ghost employees and manipulated employment practices.
