No R1 billion ‘smart city’ project awarded to Huawei Technologies

THE city of Tshwane did not award Huawei Technologies South Africa a tender worth R1 billion to make Tshwane a “smart city”.

Executive mayor Stevens Mokgalapa said yesterday the metro had not advertised any tender worth that much, and would take the Sunday Times newspaper to the Press Ombudsman and request corrections regarding his recent Huawei-sponsored trip to China.

“There is no such tender in the city and there is no R1bn tender for a smart city. What we have in the city is a tender for R26 million for the next three years (for a smart city), which was advertised on July 29 with a closing date of August 28, now extended to September 13.”

However, Mokgalapa said it was normal for a mayor to receive invitations from private companies, governments and public companies from all over the world.

No promises were made to Huawei and the R26m tender was still open to the public, according to the mayor.

The ANC in Tshwane said it was not surprised to read that the DA was alleged to be involved in corruption in the city of Tshwane.

The DA’s James Selfe was quoted saying the party would require Mokgalapa to explain himself on these allegations.