The Bhisho legislature has appointed controversial East London businesswoman Viwe Vazi’s company, Above and Beyond, as the new service provider for three years to feed more than 350 staff and members of the provincial legislature.
Vazi is among those accused of fraud and money laundering charges involving funds voted by Buffalo City Metro for the memorial services for late former president Nelson Mandela. She has pleaded not guilty.
“The legislature is happy to announce that it has now appointed Above and Beyond as a new service provider for a period of three years after consideration of the due processes,” legislature spokeswoman Bulelwa Ganyaza said yesterday.
Ganyaza said the decision to appoint Above and Beyond had been taken on September 10 2014.
The service level agreement was being finalised so that they can move on site.
“The company will bill the legislature on a month-to-month basis depending on the usage,” she said.
The Daily Dispatch has learnt that the company will charge an average of R35 a plate for a normal lunch and between R100 and R120 for formal events, such as the state of the province and budget speech.
Contacted to confirm the figures, the legislature refused to comment, saying they could not confirm or deny the figures.
The company will provide staff and MPLs with breakfast, lunch, fast food, drinks and sweets.
The company will cater for all events within the legislature.
Vazi was not available for comment when contacted yesterday.
Late last month, the Dispatch reported how Vazi wrote to the legislature via her legal team giving it a deadline to start the bidding process from scratch. National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) wrote to legislature head Phumelele Ndamase in August asking about the tender.
The union wanted to know why the tender had been cancelled and how much it had cost the legislature in legal fees and advertising.
Three months ago, workers at the Bhisho legislature “invaded” the “upmarket” dining hall used by MPLs and senior legislature administrators demanding an upgrade of their prefab dining hall and the same meals, furniture and utensils as their bosses enjoyed.
Vazi and 10 other business people face fraud and money laundering charges after allegedly illicitly benefiting from funds meant for the Mandela memorial services.
The amount accounts for a major portion of the nearly R6-million shelled out by Buffalo City Metro last year for the events and which led to a series of arrests, including some of the metro’s leaders.
About a month ago, the Grahamstown High Court froze the bank accounts of separate businesses belonging to Mzwandile Sokwali and his wife Busisiwe Boti, Dean Fanoe, Vazi and an account controlled by attorney Zintle Nkuhlu.
BCM’s mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, deputy mayor Temba Tinta, council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele, senior councillor Sindiswa Gomba, ANC regional secretary Pumlani Mkolo and the director in the office of the mayor Ondela Mahlangu also had their accounts frozen. — mphumziz@dispatch.co.za
Fraud accused wins tender
Vazi is among those accused of fraud and money laundering charges involving funds voted by Buffalo City Metro for the memorial services for late former president Nelson Mandela. She has pleaded not guilty.
“The legislature is happy to announce that it has now appointed Above and Beyond as a new service provider for a period of three years after consideration of the due processes,” legislature spokeswoman Bulelwa Ganyaza said yesterday.
Ganyaza said the decision to appoint Above and Beyond had been taken on September 10 2014.
The service level agreement was being finalised so that they can move on site.
“The company will bill the legislature on a month-to-month basis depending on the usage,” she said.
The Daily Dispatch has learnt that the company will charge an average of R35 a plate for a normal lunch and between R100 and R120 for formal events, such as the state of the province and budget speech.
Contacted to confirm the figures, the legislature refused to comment, saying they could not confirm or deny the figures.
The company will provide staff and MPLs with breakfast, lunch, fast food, drinks and sweets.
The company will cater for all events within the legislature.
Vazi was not available for comment when contacted yesterday.
Late last month, the Dispatch reported how Vazi wrote to the legislature via her legal team giving it a deadline to start the bidding process from scratch. National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) wrote to legislature head Phumelele Ndamase in August asking about the tender.
The union wanted to know why the tender had been cancelled and how much it had cost the legislature in legal fees and advertising.
Three months ago, workers at the Bhisho legislature “invaded” the “upmarket” dining hall used by MPLs and senior legislature administrators demanding an upgrade of their prefab dining hall and the same meals, furniture and utensils as their bosses enjoyed.
Vazi and 10 other business people face fraud and money laundering charges after allegedly illicitly benefiting from funds meant for the Mandela memorial services.
The amount accounts for a major portion of the nearly R6-million shelled out by Buffalo City Metro last year for the events and which led to a series of arrests, including some of the metro’s leaders.
About a month ago, the Grahamstown High Court froze the bank accounts of separate businesses belonging to Mzwandile Sokwali and his wife Busisiwe Boti, Dean Fanoe, Vazi and an account controlled by attorney Zintle Nkuhlu.
BCM’s mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, deputy mayor Temba Tinta, council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele, senior councillor Sindiswa Gomba, ANC regional secretary Pumlani Mkolo and the director in the office of the mayor Ondela Mahlangu also had their accounts frozen. — mphumziz@dispatch.co.za
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