Sol approves ‘emergency and exceptional’ payments
SOL PLAATJE Municipality has approved “emergency and exceptional case” payments that deviate from the supply chain management policies, including expenditure of R34 926.42 on advertising in both local and national newspapers for the post of municipal manager.
The contract of the current municipal manager, Goolam Akharwaray, has already expired, while it is believed that he along with the executive director of community and social development, Khuza Bogacwi, and the chief financial officer, Lydia Mahloko, are among the candidates who have applied for the post.
The municipal manager position was described as a critical post that needed to be filled as a matter of urgency and it was “not practical to get more quotations” for the advertisements.
The municipal manager has meanwhile approved a procurement deviation of R4.7 million to the Iceburg Group (Pty) Ltd for the hard rock excavations and work at the Newton Reservoir site.
In a report, council was yesterday informed that additional work was incurred by the contractor due to the geotechnical nature and challenges due to water leaking from the existing infrastructure.
“The project is currently under way and is progressing slowly. As excavations proceeded at the manifold chamber and trenches, it is apparent that the dilapidated pipes are leaking water at a rate that causes a constant flow of water into the excavations and the contractor needs to employ a permanent crew that pumps excessive water from the excavations.
Night shift crew
“Due to the excess of water a night shift crew must also be employed to deal with the water.”
The report indicated that additional costs would be incurred in order to elevate the manifold and pipes and remove hard rock as required. “Conventional methods were used to no avail and alternative methods will be required. The correct method identified is the combination of chemical and mechanical breaking of hard rock.”
An urgent refurbishment also had to be done on a high lift pump, which pumps potable water from Riverton to Kimberley, in October as a result of a malfunctioning valve.
This resulted in unexpected expenditure of R108 548.52.
Council also approved a payment of R64 786.20 to test the city’s drinking water quality in regulation with the Blue Drop requirements.
Rand Water Scientific Services was given the approval to conduct water analysis and testing in Kimberley, Ritchie and Riverton from September 1 until August 1, 2018.
Various payments that deviated from supply chain management processes were approved to Zilko Tours and Travel, including R129 180 for accommodation and bus hire for the Sol Plaatje municipal choir to travel to East London, R198 600 for accommodation and bus hire for Sol Plaatje municipality sports members to travel to Mangaung and R36 552 for the Nelson Mandela ad hoc committee to attend a benchmarking exercise at the King Dalindyebo Local Municipality.
Car hire for the mayor while the mayoral vehicle was undergoing repairs at Gariep Motors, amounting to R45 342 and R36 342, was also paid to Zilko Tours and Travel.
A deviation was also approved for the festive lights, to the value of R188 107.75, which was paid to ACDC Express. This was done due to the unavailability of lights.