The Inkatha Freedom Party will write to the Public Protector Advocate, Busisiwe Mkhwebane to investigate the alleged corruption in the awarding of tenders in the KZN Legislature.
I have been inundated with calls from aggrieved local business people in uThukela District where there is a Taking Legislature to the People event organised by the KZN Legislature starting today till tomorrow at Wembezi complaining that they were left out in the cold in the awarding of tenders for catering, toilets and marquees. They claim that only companies from other places benefited. They further claimed that during the briefing some Legislature officials told them that some politicians informed them that tenders are earmarked for their companies.
As the IFP we feel vindicated because we have noticed that most of the time local businesses are left out in the cold when the Premier’s Office and other provincial government departments are having events in rural areas. Local businesses must be given preference in providing services like catering, sound system, marquees, etc when events are taking place in their areas.
We want the Public Protector to investigate the office of the KZN Legislature, Speaker, Ms Lydia Johnson. This begs the question of whether there are no other competent companies that can provide these services, or there is nepotism in the awarding of catering tenders? This needs to be investigated. Procurement accounts for a large part of public resources and thus it is important that the tender procedures occur in an accountable, transparent and well-managed way.
Corruption in public procurement takes away benefits meant for citizens, and lowers the levels of public trust and confidence in the government. It can also be linked to service delivery protests and the erosion of honest competitive bidding. Corruption in procurement encourages competition in bribery instead of competition for good quality or price. It has a harmful effect on honest bidders.
We will raise this matter in the Legislature to demand answers from the Premier and the Speaker and to tell us what plans they have in mind to ensure that local businesses are benefitting from government events in their areas. It doesn’t make any sense to bring companies from other places while local businesses can offer the same service at a much-reduced cost, thereby saving tax payers money which could be used to improve service delivery. Outside service providers should be considered only if there are no local companies that can provide the services.
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Contact:
Mr Blessed Gwala
IFP Leader in the KZN Legislature
078 290 5842
