Punish tender fraudsters
IEDITOR’S VIEW T IS A downward spiral when fraud and corruption is so endemic that it becomes profitable to those who engage in it. Without checks and balances, appropriate jail sentences and penalties to punish those who steal from the state, we should forget about eliminating this scourge.
The report by the AuditorGeneral released on Wednesday revealed that eThekwini Municipality had 337 suppliers that received tenders after submitting fraudulent tender documents while bidding for city contracts. It also emerged the city received the dubious honour of being named the worst transgressor compared to other municipalities and metros.
The City of Johannesburg recorded 80 of these companies with fraudulent documents, while the City of Cape Town had 68 and Ekurhuleni Metro 59.
The new administration that took over after the local government elections – led by mayor Zandile Gumede and municipal manager Sipho Nzuza – has to send a strong and clear message that fraud and corruption is the enemy of progress and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
While Nzuza should be commended for launching an investigation that might lead to the blacklisting of the transgressor, it is important to note such measures are woefully inadequate.
Receiving a municipal contract worth millions under false pretence is a criminal act and perpetrators must be reported to the police for the law to take its course.
Individuals who receive bank loans by providing fraudulent documents are arrested and charged with fraud, so it is baffling why these unscrupulous individuals are let off lightly, with only a slap on the wrist.
Without any time spent in jail, these individuals will simply open another company and continue to do business with the municipality.
The problem of substandard work carried out by inexperienced contractors has cost the government millions of rands and there has been a reluctance on the part of the city and provincial authorities to take decisive action against the culprits.
Like former municipal manager of eThekwini and now director of City Insight, Mike Sutcliffe, we call on the city to strengthen its systems by linking itself to the national central supplier database to ensure repeat offenders are detected and removed.
We cannot afford to be known as the city that is turning a blind eye to acts of corruption and fraud, as this would make us an unattractive destination for those who want to invest in the municipality.
By jailing those who continue to steal from the poor, we will be taking a drastic step towards eliminating the biggest challenge confronting us as a country.