Royal contractor yet to meet king

THE tender for a R2.6 million upgrade to a royal roof and fencing has been awarded, but it’s not quite final – the contractor must still be “introduced” to the king.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works awarded the contract for R2.656m to Mhlaba Properties for an upgrade to thatched roofs and fencing at Enyokeni Royal Residence, the home of King Goodwill Zwelithini.

But Mhlaba “has yet to be formally introduced to His Majesty”, said Mbulelo Baloyi, the spokesman for the office of the KZN MEC for human settlements and public works.

“Matters relating to the Zulu royal household are governed by both written and unwritten protocols. In this case, the matter of the fencing and roofing of Enyokeni palace remains work in progress that is going through a number of processes. The tender process is just one of them,” said Baloyi.

“However, once the process of tendering has been finalised… it would be considered prudent and a protocol requirement that the appointed successful bidder be formally introduced to the royal house and His Majesty the King.” Mhlaba’s bid was one of six. Three other bids were from Imvusa Trading (R3.936m), Zingezethu Construction (R2.880m) and Buyakithi (R2.894m).

Baloyi said that Public Works maintained government assets, which included the Royal Household assets.

Despite the National Treasury regulations that require public naming of all bidders in provincial and national contracts over R500 000, Baloyi would not name the other two losing bidders. Both bid less than the winning contractor, at R2.259m and R2.436m.

Baloyi said one was eliminated for failing to submit the required documents, and the other because of concerns that it was so low it wasn’t viable.

“Basically, the bidder did not pass the requisite functionality criteria,” he said.

Baloyi said the work “will include the thatch roofing of the palace, the use of thick thatch of a particular species of hand-cut grass laid in bundles of suitable size compacted to a certain density, supported by suitable fixing rods interlaced through and over bundles.

“For fencing, this would include the use of creosote-treated poles, straining posts, horizontal stays as well as intermediate posts and a gate,” he said.