The construction of the Morgenzon Stadium seems to be nearly completed, but irregularities as regards to the awarding of tenders are alleged.
The Standerton Advertiser is in possession of a copy of a memorandum from the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco), in which a complaint is made to inter alia the speaker of the Lekwa Municipality, the office of the Public Protector and the office of the Auditor-General.
According to the letter, the business community, with interests, uncovered the matter on 28 May and 20 June.
The office of the municipal manager, Ms Gugulethu Mhlongo-Ntshangase, was allegedly informed telephonically and an employee was deployed to investigate.
A ward councillor was allegedly present in a meeting where it was the discussed and according to the memorandum, claims that the sub-contract of supplying mobile toilets were received, refuted.
The crux of the matter is that a company, of an employee of the municipality, allegedly received the sub-contract.
The name of the worker is cited in the document.
Another allegation is that the son of the councillor, who is also a municipal employee, was awarded contract work on the same project.
Mr Muso Kubheka, DA-councillor in the Gert Sibande District Municipality, said on Tuesday, 24 November that work on the stadium is nearly 95 per cent finished.
He mentioned that the contractor did not keep to the deadline and that Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) conducted a site visit.
The document concluded with requesting an internal disciplinary process against all who are found to be doing business with the municipality.
“This should in no way be construed as some witch-hunt against any person, but a process of holding public figures accountable.”
The newspaper contacted the person who wrote the letter on Tuesday, 24 November to schedule an interview, and tried again on Wednesday, 25 November to verify the information.
Another call was made on Friday, 27 November, without any success.
Taking a trip down memory lane, Supply Chain Management policy and prescripts were found to be abused as published in the newspaper, when coverage was given to the 2018 forensic report from CoGTA.
According to the report, Ms Mhlongo-Ntshangase has in the past invoked Regulation 32 of 2005 of Supply Chain Management.
The newspaper sent a Whatsapp-message to the communications manager of the municipality, Ms Thobeka Msthiselwa, on Thursday, 26 November, asking the following pertinent questions:
a) Were there any irregularities found in the awarding of the tender for the construction of the stadium?
b) Was a councillor involved in the awarding of the tenders
c) Are any employees of Lekwa doing business with the municipality
d) Was supply chain management procedures adhered to?
e) What was the cost involved for completion of the stadium?
f) What was the final amount paid to the contractor?
No reply was received at the time of going to press.
The Standerton Advertiser also contacted Mr Rosier de Ville, caucus leader of the DA, on Friday, enquiring about the amount of money spent on the stadium.
Mr De Ville said the contract was awarded to Zadek and the Integrated Development Plan indicated that R4,5-million would be appropriated towards the project.
Another contract, amounting to R6,4-million, was however drawn up to upgrade the stadium.
“To my knowledge, no council resolution was taken in this regard,” he concluded.
