The KwaZulu-Natal Treasury has directed that the multi-million scholar transport tender be re-advertised and the bidding start afresh after the previous one was marred by allegations of corruption.
The MEC for the department, Francois Rodgers, officially confirmed this on Tuesday. This was after he first made these revelations in a closed meeting in Kokstad on Friday last week.
Allegations of bribes
The confirmation comes after some of the losing bidders alleged that some officials of the provincial Department of Transport accepted cash bribes in order to swing the bid in favour of a logistics company owned by one of the politically connected families in the province.
Rodgers has assured the public that scholars would still be serviced as the current service provider will continue. The directive to the department is led by ANC’s MEC, Siboniso Duma.
“MEC Francois Rodgers wishes to state that the Government of Provincial Unity is determined to ensure that scholar transportation remains available to pupils who are currently utilising the system. It is important to clarify that there are no plans to stop the government-sponsored scholar transport in KZN.
“We can confirm that MEC Rodgers has advised the provincial Department of Transport to re-start a new scholar transportation tender further to the establishment of irregularities in the appointment of a new service provider. KZN Treasury will monitor the process to ensure adherence to supply chain management prescripts.
Scholar transport to continue
“It is important to state that this process refers to a new tender. And it will not have a bearing in the tender that is currently operational,” Rogers’s department said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Rodgers revealed that the department is a few days away from being placed under administration. This after it engaged in reckless spending that resulted in it being unable to pay contractors. Some contractors have abandoned major projects because they have not been paid for months.
The provincial Department of Education, led by ANC’s MEC, Sipho Hlomuka, is already under administration. This after it was found to be awarding tenders to companies even if there was no budget for them. And that resulted in failure to pay service providers.
