The Mangaung Business Transformation Umbrella (Mabtu), of which Foko Motlatsi Phillimon Contractors (FMP) is a member, occupied the front entrance to the Free State High Court on Monday in support of a fellow contractor who dragged the metro to court over the Integrated Public Transport Network contract. The Chairperson of Mabtu, Mzwandile Phaphu, says the contract designated for revamping and refurbishing the old M10 and Moshoeshoe Road is flawed and was awarded to illegitimate people.

He alleges that contractors from Mpumalanga and Gauteng with a score of at least 37 below the possible score of 100, have been given contracts while locals with the capacity and full points are being overlooked by the metro.

OFM News previously reported that a local youth group got into a heated argument with a local ward councillor and the Metro’s councillor Mxolosi Siyonzana, over the awarding of the tender. Phaphu says the metro is awarding the tender to corrupt people because its officials stand to benefit or pocket money through corrupt deeds as a “thank you” from those who the tender has been awarded to. The metro is yet to comment.

Mabtu members yesterday accused the municipality of excluding them and overlooking local contractors who wanted to be part of the project.

In May. Mayor Olly Mlamleli promised to hold workshops to find ways to ensure that small businesses do benefit from the construction work done for this project. Mangaung Metro spokesperson, Qondile Khedama, confirmed to OFM News in 2018 that Glad Africa & LTE was appointed as the service providers in the project in 2015. The company also listed Mangaung’s Integrated Public Transport Network (IPTN) as one of its projects on its website in 2016. The company, which has offices across the country, is responsible for the design and implementation of the project at a cost of around R5 billion.

OFM News