Beaufort West irregular expenditure under management’s spotlight

THE awarding of multi-million rand tender to a security company by the Beaufort West Municipality in 2020 has resulted in fruitful and wasteful expenditure.

In the investigation by the municipality’s top management, it was recommended that the allegations be investigated to determine whether any officials should be held accountable.

The company was awarded the tender in 2020 for the provision of security services for a period of three years, according to a report on the investigation.

“The budget for the tender was said to be R8 million for the period of three years, but the appointed service provider has tendered for R14m, R6m above the budgeted amount and this surely will result in an unauthorised expenditure for the said expenditure item,” read the report.

The service provider was also accused of appointing unqualified security guards.

“Almost all cash points that require armed security do not have armed security guards. The service provider misled the municipality in the proposal in that the bidder quoted for armed security, which was never provided since the commencement of the project,” the report read.

The contract with the security company has since been terminated.

Beaufort West community activist, Brian Jooste, said about 50 employees of the company were laid off after the allegations came to light.

“In 2020 I heard rumours that there were a lot of discrepancies with the company that was awarded the security tender by the municipality. I started to look into it and I realised the rumours were true. I went to see the then-municipal manager and I gave him what I found out. But he ignored the facts.

“In May 2021, the security workers got letters from the company that their employment contracts will be terminated and that the tender will be investigated.

“The investigation is still ongoing in the matter,” he said.

Jooste said the community was looking into opening a case of fraud and corruption against officials implicated in awarding the tender.

“We are sick and tired of what is going on in Beaufort west. We have already sat in a meeting with the Speaker and Mayor. We gave them the report and eight working days to go and lay charges against themselves,” he said.

The municipality said the matter was under investigation.

“There is currently an internal process underway. The matter is under investigation. The previous municipal manager handed it to the Hawks. Let’s allow the process to continue,“they said.

Spokesperson for Local Government MEC Anton Bredell, Wouter Kriel said, “We are aware of the allegations. We wrote to Beaufort West Municipality asking for information on this matter, which they provided. We are currently assessing the information.”

The allegations have also been reported to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

Lawyers for the security company said they would respond in due course.