Ice station claims are all about disputed invoices

As the department of public works, we welcome public and media scrutiny of our projects and finances.

However, in “Contract threat to SA Antarctic team” (May 12), the journalist was premature in accusing public works of placing the lives of South African scientists at risk without receiving input from the department.

The department has put in place a facilities management plan to safeguard the equipment referred to in the article.

The contractor, Nolitha, was presumptuous in claiming that only it was qualified to undertake this work. The original refurbishment contract went on open tender, a process in which other companies were deemed qualified to bid. The department built and maintained the original Antarctic bases and will implement the facilities management plan.

The article is an attempt by the contractor and its lawyers to put pressure on the department to pay invoices that are disputed.

The contract to refurbish SA’s Antarctic base began in 2015. All valid invoices from the contractor from that time have been honoured. However, by the end of 2018 the work was running into major extensions of scope and price. In the circumstances, the department sent a team of engineers to the Antarctic to verify the work done.

Discrepancies were found between the claims made in invoices and work done. The two findings were made available to the contractor on April 28 with the request that it respond with an explanation and supporting documents by May 3. No response has been received.

It would be irresponsible for the department to pay invoices that are disputed. To do so would amount to financial misconduct in terms of National Treasury prescripts.

Another misleading allegation in the article is that service providers, particularly BEE companies, are suffering because of bureaucratic delays. Nothing is further from the truth. Ninety-five percent of valid invoices in March were paid within 30 days.

Thami Mali, spokesperson, department of public works

Prioritise job opportunities

Despite provocations on all fronts, the ANC election campaign was politically clean and peaceful. The victory was a collective effort, set in motion by the renewal trajectory. It also reaffirms the will of the people and confidence in the ANC to steer the country on a growth path, aided by continuity and stability.

The people’s plan is geared to put the economy on a strong footing with the eradication of corruption as a top item.

Let’s come together with the same vigour to grow SA so that the government can deliver a better life for all. This includes addressing the lack of appropriate skills at local government level to build sustainable infrastructure in our communities.

Active citizenry will effect the change we want to see. The struggle to dismantle the bedrock of colonialism and apartheid continues. There remains the principal task of redressing past legacies and resolving economic challenges to create decent jobs.

SA, like other developing countries, attracts illegal migrants who overstrain the fiscus to contradict milestones of transformation and service delivery in society.

Hopefully, business will desist from any activities that seem to get in the way of transforming the apartheid economic architecture, whose intractable legacy of unemployment, poverty and inequality is still ravaging the country.

To achieve all of this, start with prioritising employment opportunities for youth and then foreign nationals with scarce skills. It’s essential for business to open up enterprise and supplier development programmes for young entrepreneurs with the view to stimulate growth and ensure inclusivity in the economy.

Morgan Phaahla, Ekurhuleni

Give small parties a sound bite

Each party paid the same deposit, but TV coverage was apparently divided according to the existing size of the parties.

It is not surprising that many of the newcomers are unhappy with the results. It was also unfair on the electorate.

Possibly some of these new parties had some valuable ideas on how SA should be governed.

Most people already have some idea of what the big parties can offer, so it could be argued that the others needed more air time, especially as they lacked the resources to go canvassing.

Giving the newcomers five minutes to state their positions and then having interviewers clarify and discuss major issues would have been fairer.

Nick Walker, Mossel Bay

Peter Bruce has an off day

Peter Bruce claims that “the DA needs to design and offer SA a clear economic alternative” in “Elections have birthed a new centre, but can it hold?” (May 12).

It appears he has not read the DA manifesto — it has over 30 pages regarding its economic alternative of growth and jobs.

On The Fix programme on eNCA on May 12, Bruce claimed that “the DA has no policy”. But the DA has a policy of 81 pages in its manifesto. I will not explain it all here, he can just Google “DA manifesto for change”.

In Bruce’s perception “the DA might be incompetent”, but the ANC is full of corruption and criminals. Is Bruce just denying all the evidence presented at the commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture and in Pieter-Louis Myburgh’s book Gangster State?

It seems Bruce was having an off day. Vincent Williams, Orange Grove

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