LOUIS TRICHARDT – An announcement by the Mayor of the Makhado Municipality about the status of the municipal Tender Committee, elicited grave concern from the official DA Opposition in the Municipal Council.

The mayor announced that the Municipal Manager and his directors would for the interim attend to all matters related to the Tender Committee. The DA expressed its concern that chaos reigns in the Tender Committee of the Makhado Municipality.

In an official statement the DA refers with concern to the constant change of members of the Tender Committee and says there are allegations that certain councillors used their position on the Tender Committee to acquire lucrative contracts for their own companies, companies of which wives of councillors are directors, or companies where close family members are directors. The statement reads that various concerns raised by officials and non-performance by certain contractors, were seemingly covered up.

"No public investigations into the breach of the code of conduct of councillors have been done by the Office of the Speaker, notwithstanding various letters directed to her office in this regard."

According to the statement council took a decision on 26 November: "That it be noted that the Portfolio Committee: Tenders, was postponed until further notice." No reasons were given.

The DA says it finds it strange that in a supposedly democratic government, the mayor can unilaterally use an official announcement during a council meeting to disband the Tender Committee. During the 74th Executive Committee meeting the Mayor announced: "... that subjects/matters related to the Tender Committee would forthwith for the interim be attended to by the Municipal Manager and his directors …" Apparently, no reasons were given for this strange announcement.

"The DA should expect a well-researched item to the full council to provide all the information to council before a democratic decision is made."

According to the statement a report from the Municipal Manager indicated that a tender for water reticulation "was adjudicated by Council's consultant." The DA wonders if stranger things are possible.

According to the DA, a letter was written to the office of the National Minister of Finance, Mr Trevor Manual, on October 31, 2002 requesting clarity on the absence of tax clearance certificates in the tender process. His office provided no clarity. Various tenders have been allocated to companies who did not submit tax clearance certificates during the tender process. A tender was also allocated to a company who, according to Council's consultant "did not complete the Form of Tender in section 513 - rendering the tender non binding and unacceptable according to tender regulations".

The statement says the DA wrote to the municipality requesting information about the re-advertising of tenders. No answer was received on the question how much it cost to constantly re-advertise.

"The DA wonders whether the municipality will re-advertise the same tender again and again until the 'right' person tender. The failure of the municipality to answer such written questions leaves this allegation wide open.

"The DA many times expressed its concern about the chaos in the Tender Committee, but it seems as if the ANC controlled Council, the ANC controlled Provincial Government and the ANC controlled National Government are perfectly happy about the situation."