Investigators struggle to access crucial information

to Masiqhame Trading, wholly owned by Cuan Surren Metune, the 27-year-old son of a former BCM employee Fabian Metune.

Late last year the Daily Dispatch reported that all on the same day, June 29 2012, an order for bags worth nearly R1.1-million was made, invoices submitted and payments made.

To add to the controversy, this was six days before the supplier had signed a letter accepting the job.

The contract was awarded on June 1, and city boss Andile Fani wrote to Masiqhame on June 6 informing Metune that his company had won the contract. On July 5, a month later, the firm signed a letter of acceptance. The project has since stalled.

A confidential report tabled in a council meeting late last year further showed that Masiqhame received payments from the metro almost every week, from March 8 last year, although it only accepted the terms of the contract in July.

The report revealed that weekly payments of between R6 125 and R59 036 were made, with one of the biggest payments on June 28 when BCM paid R108 680 into the company’s account.

A day later, on June 29, an official order to supply 11 336 packs at a cost of almost R1.1-million was issued by BCM.

Masiqhame later submitted six invoices of R183 333 each, totalling R1 099 998, and payment for these were allegedly made on the same day.

This was six days before the supplier signed a letter of acceptance for the job on July 5.

The council report revealed that between March 8 and 22 2012, the metro paid Masiqhame R102 554; between April 2 and 24 another R126 660.

Between May 10 and 30 a further R141 173 was paid and the company received a total of R164 952 in cheques on June 21 and 28.

The confidential council report revealed that a “stop gap mechanism” had been requested in March last year, whereby an informal tender process was used to continue procuring refuse bags until a new tender had been awarded.

BCM’s head of communications and international relations Ondela Mahlangu yesterday refused to comment on the matter, saying it was being dealt with by Ncitha’s office.

Ncitha and MMB Consulting associate director Bongo Rulashe could not be reached for comment late yesterday. —

See Opinion, page 9