Headache for parliament as Western Cape keeps R1.2bn irregular tender

The Western Cape education department’s decision to continue with a R1.2bn tender after a forensic report and the auditor-general flagged irregularities with the contract has resulted in MPs wanting the department investigated by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

The tender was for the supply of computer networking equipment, ICT hardware and network support services to state schools for five years. 

The tender awarding process had been facilitated by the State Information Technology Agency (Sita) for the department. A forensic report from Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, a law firm, investigated the tender and found it was irregular.  

Four irregularities were flagged in the tender awarded to Blue Networks Consortium (BNC). The company was awarded the tender despite having two different pricing options for the same service.

The company failed to meet the requirement that 90% of electrical cables must be from a local producer. Sita also unfairly disqualified one of the bidders, Dimension Data.

The department’s legal adviser Ian Steyn told parliament’s basic education committee on Wednesday the contract would remain in place because government had “no legal basis” to review the tender despite irregularities.



SINESIPHO SCHRIEBER
www.timeslive.co.za

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