Central SA
North West Department summoned before the legislative committees─── LUCKY NKUYANE 10:07 Fri, 21 Jul 2023
The North West Department of Public Works and Roads is appearing before the Provincial Legislature Committee on Public Works and Roads over allegations of tender irregularities involving millions of rand.
The department was summoned to explain allegations regarding the awarding of an R134 million tender to an allegedly blacklisted contractor in the province. The department is set to present allegations that it allegedly awarded the contract to a company that was previously terminated due to poor workmanship.
The Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Roads, Community Safety, and Transport Management is led by Mmoloki Cwaile and the Standing Committee on Provincial Public Accounts is led by Job Dliso.
The 134 million tender to the company, Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services, to patch and seal roads in Wonderkop is said to have been awarded unlawfully.
OFM News previously reported that MEC Oageng Molapisi recently confirmed receiving the report and ordered an independent forensic investigation to be instituted urgently.
Also READ: North West Department to scrutinize a tender worth R134 million
The report indicates that the department has no record of any official termination of contract concerning the two abandoned projects but only a "notice of termination’’ that was issued to the contractor.
Also READ: A contractor that fails to finish North West roads receives a new one.
It's said that the termination processes were never concluded and that there was no process to register a complaint against the contractor.
Molapisi has since directed the Head of the Department, Moses Kgantsi, to institute an internal investigation on a tender awarded to Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services valued at R134 million.
"It is an anomaly that a project is abandoned. Nothing is said about it, and officials continue with business as usual. I demand accountability for this negligence and waste of taxpayers’ money."
In finding a permanent solution to this matter, Molapisi has directed Kgantsi to terminate the department’s contract with Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services without delay.
Molapisi has also outlined the following terms of reference to guide the independent forensic investigation:
1. Investigation of the appointment of Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services for contract PWR 127/14 from Khunotswana Village towards N4, for a total amount of R134 million.
2. Investigation of project management on the following contract: (a) PWR 09/17B-FA23 for patch and reseal of road D521 from road P51/1 in Segwaelane to Wonderkop. The appointed service provider was Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services. (b) PWR 09/17D FA-24: Patch and Reseal of Road P63/1 from Letlhabile to Hebron (Gauteng Border), including intersection improvement on the Mangope Highway. The appointed service provider was Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services, and
3. Investigation of any other abandoned project by Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services
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