The executive mayor of Ekurhuleni, Clr Mzwandile Masina, went on the attack on Twitter this week following a report by Daily Maverick that the City of Ekurhuleni had spent a staggering R1.9-billion on chemical toilets over three financial years from 2017 to 2019.
It also claimed toilets were sourced from 16 small suppliers, and it was an apparent get-rich-quick scheme for some underperforming contractors that left many beneficiaries with dirty and broken toilets.
Masina tweeted: “Then we are told we attack journo’s even when we give them facts and allegations they making @dailymaverick was such a trash this weekend. They publish a story we had corrected that it’s not R1.9-b rather R800-m but still go ahead misleading.”
The mayor’s office on Wednesday released a statement in response to the toilet report published by AmaBhungane in Daily Maverick, outlining the interventions his administration had taken in improving sanitary services across the City. He also said the tender was awarded in 2016, prior to him assuming office.
It has also been reported that the Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Urban Planning and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Lebogang Maile, has written a formal letter to Masina giving him seven days to respond to the allegations of the R1.9-b chemical toilets tender.
Then we are told we attack Journo’s even when we give them facts abt allegations they making @dailymaverick was such a trash this weekend. They publish a story we had corrected that it’s not R1,9 Billion rather R800m but still go ahead misleading.
— Mzwandile Masina (@mzwandileMasina) July 3, 2019
The office of the mayor outlined the following in its statement:
The City released a response to the Amabhungane article on May 30, clarifying issues pertaining to supply chain management processes, the City’s pro-poor government agenda and the financial implications of rapid urban migration.
On May 31 Masina explained to Amabhungane journalist Tabelo Timse that the tender was awarded in 2016, prior to him assuming office. Masina also outlined the interventions his administration had taken in improving sanitary services across the City.
In summary, these are the facts pertaining to the roll-out of chemical toilets in the City of Ekurhuleni:
• All service providers are appointed following regulated and transparent supply chain management processes. The bid adjudication committee is open to the public and the process is subject to scrutiny by City’s internal audit department and the Auditor General. During the 2017/18 financial year no audit findings were issued for maladministration and wasteful expenditure.
• According to Statistics SA’s mid-year population estimates in 2018, South Africa is estimated to receive a net immigration of 1.2 million people between 2016 and 2021. Most international migrants settle in Gauteng (47.5 per cent) and a large percentage of them settle in the City of Ekurhuleni.
This has resulted in a rapid increase in the number of informal settlements in the City where basic sanitation must be provided.
• The current administration came into office in late 2016 and adopted a ‘pro-poor’ agenda, which is aimed at ensuring that our people’s dignity is restored. Following a petition received by legislature demanding more toilets in informal settlements, and continuous requests for such by members of the community during campaigning for the 2016 local government elections, the leadership prioritised sanitation in informal settlements.
At the time when the leadership came into office in August 2016, the ratio stood to at one toilet to 10 structures. A political decision was taken that this must be improved to one toilet per five structures, an intervention that has been appreciated by the beneficiaries.
• The City had to correct an unacceptable anomaly in the supply chain process of rendering this service, as there was one supplier for rendering this service to all 119 informal settlements.The City now has 16 contractors rendering the service. Sixteen bidders qualified and all of them were appointed.
This followed an inspection undertaken by the City to determine that they met specifications. These companies invoice the municipality as per the rates approved in the bid document.
• Following an internal study, the City is set to introduce a baseline rate for the weekly servicing of toilets and will soon utilise an average market-related pricing regimen for monthly rental fees for a single toilet unit.
Details will be provided to the public, following the issuing of the new tender for chemical toilets.
• Reports regarding poor workmanship will be investigated through the relevant oversight committees and random visits to communities.
Masina once again reiterated his commitment to fighting corruption and maladministration within the City.
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