Central SA
MEC sets record straight on fake Jagersfontein tender - WATCH─── LUCKY NKUYANE 06:49 Sun, 23 Oct 2022
The MEC for Cooperative Governance (Cogta) in the Free State has set the record straight over an alleged fake Jagersfontein tender.
ALSO READ: Free State department denies Jagersfontein tender
MEC Mxolisi Dukwana earlier denied that a tender was issued for the rebuilding of houses which were destroyed by the mudslide disaster on Sunday 11 September 2022 when the walls of a mine dam collapsed.
ALSO READ: Houses, cars swept away by strong stream of water in Free State town | WATCH
He says the tender was never specifically meant for Jagersfontein.
Dukwana says it is a departmental tender inviting role players in the Alternative Building Technologies (ABT) and Innovative Building Technologies (IBT), among others. This, as growing concern over the rebuilding of over 100 houses continues within the community which has been declared a disaster area.
"We felt that we needed to open an opportunity for those who are on the field. It was not a tender that was meant for specifically Jagersfontein. It was a departmental tender that was inviting all those who are in the IBT space to come in and deal with the matter and then this disaster happened," Dukwana adds.
However, Premier Sisi Ntombela this week, alongside various provincial departments, including Cogta, reinforced their commitments of rebuilding and restoring the dignity of the Jagersfontein victims whose homes were destroyed by the mudslide disaster.
ALSO READ: Free State government remains committed to rebuilding Jagersfontein - WATCH
It is understood that local businesses in that area are unhappy and want to take over the project of rebuilding the houses which were swept away by the mudslide a month ago.
During the mine disaster, over 100 homes were destroyed and flooded whilst infrastructure running into millions of rands was also destroyed. Two people have been killed, and one is still missing, scores were left injured whilst over 200 people were left destitute or homeless.
OFM News previously reported that according to the Department of Social Development's spokesperson, Lindiwe Mnguni, some of the residents who were housed in different shelters across the province following the disaster have since gone back home.
