Mayor cancels R4bn construction vehicles tender

Tshwane mayor Randall Williams has cancelled a “controversial” R4 billion yellow plant tender that was meant to ensure the continuation of services in the metro.

This after a contract for the hiring of vehicles – crucial to the provision of service delivery – expired in September.

The tender was meant to run over a three-year period and was focused on the corporate hire of general construction vehicles, yellow plant equipment, refuse removal vehicles, specialised equipment and machines for the municipality.

The tender process was managed under the ANC administrators who were deployed to Tshwane earlier in the year, Williams said.

He said he had received a detailed probity report conducted by Nexus Forensic Services which examined the processes concerning the administration of the tender.

“The probity report was damning and I immediately indicated that the tender would be fully investigated further, while

I also delivered the report to the Special Investigative Unit.”

Williams said the tender process under the administrators had clearly been “compromised”.

“The report highlighted various unlawful and irregular practices that took place in the supply chain management of this R4 billion yellow plant tender. As a result of this investigation the acting city manager has cancelled this tender (SS032019/2020).”

The report found: Seventy-one employees in the service of the state have either direct or indirect confl icts of interest in the bidding process of this specific tender; Thirty-five bidding entities share directorships which were not disclosed in the bidding documents which is indicative of collusive bidding, Forty-nine bidders were either directly or indirectly linked to 68 city employees and employees of three other state-owned entities; Three employees in Tshwane were identified as being directors of some of the recommended bidders, none of which was disclosed; and Of the 767 bidding companies, there were six whose company details could not be matched against the companies and intellectual properties commission database.

Williams said the metro had already started the work to ensure it moved towards re-advertising a new tender and ensuring lawful processes were followed.

“This situation is not ideal for service delivery as it can cause delays and will require ad hoc arrangements to support the core business of the city,” he said.

“Nonetheless, we simply cannot allow an unlawful tendering process to proceed. I will always strive to ensure we create value for the residents of Tshwane in all that we do through processes that are open, transparent and lawful.”

Williams said the report would be delivered to National Treasury, so that the bidders involved could be held to account and blocked on national databases. –

Report highlights various unlawful practices