The mayor of the ANC-led Matatiele municipality this week shocked municipal workers when he showed up with rifle-wielding men on the day the municipality awarded a R68-million disputed security services contract.
This comes after the municipality, despite a High Court application to interdict the awarding of the contract, went ahead and appointed Sibakhulu Trading (Pty) Ltd.
However, it was the “flexing” by mayor Sonwabile Mngenela after Sibakhulu clinched the contract that left workers bewildered. This happened at the Maggie Resha building in Matatiele.
Mayor flanked by by eight rifle-wielding men
On Wednesday, Mngenela rocked up surrounded by eight rifle-wielding men. This was too much to the shocked municipal staffers. Some of them did not miss the opportunity to film the occasion.
The gunmen moved with Mngenela in the long walk from the parking lot to his office in the building. And they did the same when he left.
The mayor’s conduct of moving up and down with unsanctioned gunmen has allegedly left staff uncomfortable. Staff members complained that the whole thing was unbecoming and left many traumatised.
Mngenela, through spokesperson Luncedo Walaza, denied that the presence of the armed men put the lives of workers at risk.
“The lives of employees were not at risk as the company was not in the municipality to cause harm,” said Walaza. He said this in reference to the eight gunmen that were moving around the municipal building with Mngenela.
Rifle men not employed by municipality
“The mayor has one close protector and a driver. And those people (the rifle-wielding men) who were walking with the mayor are not employed by the municipality. They are not protectors of the mayor.”
A senior employee at the municipality said Mngenela’s conduct had left staff fearful and confused.
“The staff was left traumatised. And there was confusion with some employees thinking the mayor was abducted. This after seeing him entering the vehicle of those armed men with his official state vehicle in tow.”
Mngenela’s dramatic show on Wednesday came a day after a court drama played out. Ubilo Trading CC had approached the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Tuesday. The company was seeking to interdict the tender process.
Staff feels uncomfortable, unsafe
Msimelelo Mtebeni, the sole director of Ubilo, wants the court to compel the municipality to provide information. The info pertain to written reasons why Sibakhulu was appointed instead of his company, Ubilo.
The aggrieved party’s application was premised on a letter it received from the municipality. The letter announced Sibakhulu as the “preferred bidder” for the security services contract starting in October.
Ubilo is the incumbent provider of security services in the municipality. Its work is coming to an end when the curtains come down in September 2024.
Mtebeni said the municipality did not even notify him of their outcome that Sibakhulu was the preferred bidder. This until he heard the news through the grapevine on July 12.
“I wrote a letter to the respondent in order to ascertain the accuracy of the information I had received,” wrote Mtebeni.
Security contractor suing municipality in court over tender
“I received communication from [the municipality], to my surprise. Communication that indeed the municipality intended to appoint [Sibakhulu] as the preferred service provider.”
On July 15, Ubilo unleashed its lawyers on the municipality. It was seeking to object to the decision to appoint Sibakhulu.
The lawyers wrote to the municipality, requesting all minutes, reports and recommendations. All requested documents starting from the bid evaluation committee to the bid adjudication committee, up to the municipal manager.
On July 16, Ubilo lawyers were informed by the municipality about how to seek the information. They were told the information must be sought through the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) process.
The turnaround of the PAIA is 30 days. This is against the 14 days for objection of the appointment of a preferred bidder.
“It makes no sense to suggest that an application to request information should be done in terms of PAIA. This while on the other hand 14 days is running from the day of the notice. The resulting situation is that Ubilo is prevented from taking the matter further. And it renders the rights of fair and just administrative action meaningless” said Mtebeni.
The municipality has refused to comment on the merits of the case, saying it will meet Ubilo in court.
