Zwakele Mncwango, ActionSA’s KwaZulu-Natal provincial chairperson, has formally requested that the head of the city integrity and investigations unit (CIIU), Jimmy Ngcobo, probe the awarding of a tender related to the Nedbank Cup Final public viewing event.
In May, Mncwango raised concerns after uncovering that a previously undisclosed company had received approximately R3.6-million to establish public viewing areas (PVAs) for the Nedbank Cup Final.
R3.6m tender awarded
The event, which attracted multitudes, was held on May 10 at Moses Mabhida Stadium. It saw Kaizer Chiefs defeat arch rivals Orlando Pirates 2-1.
The PVAs were set up at Albert Park and along the Durban Beachfront.
At the time, said Mcwango, the eThekwini Municipality declined to reveal the name of the service provider. It cited “security reasons”.
Mncwango rejected this justification. He alleged that the tender process lacked transparency and may not have followed proper procedures. And he called for full disclosure and accountability.
On Friday, July 25, Mncwango publicly identified the company as Mabanye Sports Consultants. The company is owned by Lebo Benya.
He also submitted a formal request to Ngcobo urging an investigation into the matter.
The letter reads in part: “We are writing to request an investigation into the awarding of a tender to Mabanye Sports Consultant for the provision of equipment and services for the Nedbank Cup Final viewing event at the Fan Park.
Company founder is former staff member
“It is alleged that the founder of Mabanye Sports Consultant used to work for the city. Specifically in the Parks and Recreation department, which is the same department that awarded the tender.
“This alleged connection raises serious concerns about the transparency and fairness of the procurement process.
“According to the finance committee agenda of July, Mabanye Sports Consultant was awarded a tender worth R3.6-million without following standard supply chain management procedures.
“The report mentions that Section 36 was used to justify the procurement process. But it does not specify which part of Section 36 was applied.”
He stated that, considering the large sum of money involved and the apparent lack of transparency in the procurement process, it is crucial for the municipality to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
ActionSA demands probe
“We previously wrote to the city manager on May 5, 2025, using Rule 27(3) of the eThekwini Municipality’s Rules of Order, requesting information about the tender.
“The questions and responses are attached. However, the city manager refused to disclose the name of the company awarded the tender in his response. We believe that once an award has been made, this information should be publicly available. And there is no need to hide it,” said Mncwango.
He told Sunday World that the matter represents a serious irregularity. And that the public has a right to know how their money is being spent, with full accountability required.
“We want clarity on whether proper tender procedures were followed. We strongly believe the process may have been deliberately manipulated to benefit certain individuals. I expect a response within the next month,” said Mncwango.
Benya was approached for comment but had not responded by the time of publishing. His comment will be included in the story when he responds.
Ethekwini refutes allegations
Spokesperson for EThekwini Municipality, Gugu Silana, said that all political parties knew about Mabanye Sports Consultant’s appointment.
“The matter was unanimously approved by all political parties represented in the council, including ActionSA, without debate. It is therefore disingenuous for any political party to raise concerns now.
“The process was transparent, compliant, and fully aligned with
legislative requirements.”
She said that the municipality is committed to transparency and compliance with all relevant legislation, including the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
According to Silana, the amount was determined through a competitive procurement process guided by a bill of quantities.
“All submissions were evaluated in accordance with municipal supply chain management processes, and the final amount reflects both the scope of work and prevailing market conditions,” she said.
She said that Benya’s company was appointed based on the rigorous evaluation process that prioritised experience, capacity, and responsiveness to the scope of work.
Appointing reliable service providers
“The most responsive bidder met the criteria set out in the bid specifications and demonstrated the necessary expertise to deliver on the project. Our goal is always to appoint service providers who can deliver quality outcomes that benefit our communities,” she said.
“There was no deviation from the standard procurement process. The appointment followed a competitive and transparent bidding process, which was publicly advertised.
“All qualifying bidders were given equal opportunity to participate. The municipality remains committed to fair and open procurement practices that uphold the principles of accountability and inclusivity,” said Silana.
She said the appointment of the service provider followed a lawful, competitive procurement process and was tabled before the full council, which is the highest decision-making and oversight body within the municipality.
This story has been updated to reflect the City of Ethekwini’s comment.
