Margate Airport upgrade contract clarified
Since news of the upgrade became public, the Herald has fielded several phone calls asking why the upgrade was not put out to tender.
Simon April, spokesman for Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, has set the record straight regarding how the contractor carrying out the upgrade at Margate Airport was appointed.
Upgrades to the tune of R10-million include the extension of the arrivals section and the refurbishment of ablution facilities as well as a new building for car hire services.
According to the municipality, the funds were provided by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.
Since news of the upgrade became public, the Herald has fielded several phone calls asking why the upgrade was not put out to tender.
According to Mr April, the municipality had appointed Vumesa Consulting Engineers on a turn-key basis as they were part of the municipality’s panel of engineering consultants.
“The amendment to their contract was done through Section 116 of the local government: Municipal Finance Management Act, was approved by council and was also advertised for objections in the newspapers,” he said.
Vumesa Consulting Engineers then appointed FS Gonzalves as the contractor for the upgrades.
However, former councillor Jean Schmidt told the Herald that it seemed the upgrade had not been presented to council with full details of who was awarded the project, and that it fell under the competency of local government, even if funds came from province or national.
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