E Cape departments submit their orders for PPE

Order worth more than R420m will benefit many provincial suppliers

Eastern Cape government departments have indicated they need Covid-19 personal protective equipment amounting to over R420m, provincial treasury revealed this week.

Treasury said all 13 departments have placed orders for PPE worth a combined R422m.

A report issued by provincial treasury yesterday said this amount would “benefit more than 50% of Eastern Capebased suppliers” who would be asked to supply the PPE.

Treasury spokesperson Phumelele Godongwana said the government would arrange a transversal contract for PPE items that would be bought from Eastern Cape-based manufacturers in line with the local economic development procurement framework.

Broken down into three categories, the contract will include “general supplies”, which are not manufactured in the province, chemicals and plastics, and textiles.

Godongwana said the tenders were advertised on May 8, with a closing date of May 22 for general supplies, May 25 for plastics and chemicals and May 27 for textiles.

The provincial treasury report said the bid evaluation process was under way and the award of tenders would be made at the end of June.

Godongwana said general supplies includes goggles, digital thermometers, body bags and gloves with specific descriptions and sizes.

When the Dispatch asked why the general supplies were specifically set aside for other provinces, Godongwana said the bids were open for all business, including those in the province.

“The Eastern Cape department of health, being the primary user of these items, indicated that the items listed under general supplies are not manufactured in the province. However, the outcome of the bids will confirm whether this is the case or not.

“Furthermore, most of these items are based on international standards, including World Health Organisation standards.

“These include digital thermometers, latex gloves for patient examining and treatment, goggles and reusable heavy-duty gloves, three-ply masks for theatre surgery, N95 respirator masks, KN95 respirator/dust masks and body bags.”

The provincial report said the biggest orders came from the health department, which requires stock worth over R355m, transport which needs R4.1m; education R54.1m, social development R3.8m and public works R1.8m.

The report pegged the total expenditure by municipalities at R196.3m for the Covid-19 lockdown period so far.

The breakdown is:

● General expenditure — R122.4m;

● Community and social services — R31.7m;

● Public safety — R3.3m;

● Housing — R9.9m; and

● Health — R28.8m. Legislature spokesperson Andile Duka said the legislature’s PPE procurement processes were separate from the provincial government departments because it is a separate arm of government.

He said the legislature had procured hand sanitiser, face masks and gloves.

“It has also done deep cleaning and disinfection of its entire building. Any person entering the legislature will now be subjected to a vigorous screening process.

“Sourcing the required PPE for MPLs and staff is at the centre of our developed strategy. Procured PPE has been given to essential workers who have been working during the lockdown,” Duka said.

The report said the biggest orders came from the health department, which requires stock worth over R355m