Engcobo boss washes hands on jacket tender

ENGCOBO municipal manager Silumnko Mahlasela says the local authority did nothing wrong in the controversial purchase of designer jackets.

Mahlasela said council had never specified which brands should be procured and it was Mandila Trading, the company awarded the R1.3-million tender to supply the municipality with protective clothing, that had bought them.

Last week, the municipal manager wrote to mayor Lizeka Tyali, the council speaker and chief whip absolving the municipality of any wrongdoing in the matter. His letter, dated October 14, which the Daily Dispatch has seen, comes after the small municipality made headlines for providing the expensive jackets to its technical services employees for “protective” clothing. Jackets from the upmarket US Timberland brand normally retail from R3 000 upwards.

Two weeks ago, Tyali promised to investigate the saga after the Daily Dispatch reported on the issue. She is due to hold an executive meeting on Friday, where the issue will be discussed.

In his letter to Tyali, Mahlasela said proper supply chain management policies were followed when the contract was awarded to Mandila Trading.

He also pointed out that the auditor-general, Kimi Makwetu, did not raise any flags when he audited the municipality’s quarterly reviews in April.

Of the three companies that responded to the tender, Mandila Trading met all the requirements, as the other two – Mickey Mouse Trading & Projects and Gijima Resources and Marketing – did not specify whether they were local or not.

“As per the local content declaration summary schedule submitted by Mandila Trading, it showed the local content percentage per item is 100% and the protective clothing is SABS approved.

“As per the imported content declaration submitted, it was marked as not applicable.

“Both companies [Mickey Mouse Trading & Projects and Gijima Resources and Marketing] did not fill the local content form as per the tender requirement,” wrote Mahlasela.

Both companies, he said, did not submit “three letters of recommendation as per the tender requirement”. co.za