TWO multi-million rands Buffalo City Metro tenders are being investigated by the Hawks and Public Protector.
This was confirmed by BCM’s municipal manager Andile Fani yesterday.
The awarding of a R17-million black refuse bag tender and a R10million Mdantsane housing tender will be subjected to scrutiny.
This comes after council reportedly failed to act on two forensic reports completed by an external consultant last year.
Failure to act on such reports could result in the metro losing grant funding from national Treasury.
News of the investigations by the Hawks and protector comes after executive mayor Zukiswa Ncitha announced that forensic investigations in her office were not yet complete.
Speaking at a media briefing before the state of the metro address (Soma) at the Steve Biko Foundation Centre in Ginsberg, Ncitha said she was attending to the forensic reports.
She said she had also discussed the matter with Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.
MMB Consulting was appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding a R17-million contract to supply black refuse bags.
The three-year contract was awarded to Masiqhame Trading, owned by Cuan Surren Metune, the 27-year-old son of a former BCM employee and pastor Fabian Metune.
The housing tender for the completion of 150 houses was awarded in October last year to Imvusa Trading, owned by East London businessman and ANC regional leader Koko Godlo.
The tender was for the completion of an abandoned housing project in the metro’s Unit P outside Mdantsane.
Asked for more information on the forensic reports, Ncitha referred questions to Fani, saying she was rushing to deliver her speech and then to Port Elizabeth.
Fani was said to be at the centre of both tenders.
“Whether the reports have been finalised or not, I do not know. I only knew during the time when I was questioned only about Unit P. I was not asked about black plastic bags,” Fani said.
“All I know is that these two tenders are with the Hawks. I had a meeting with the Hawks and I had submitted my statement to them and it was the very first time I saw the reports.”
Fani explained that the reports were provisional and said he had not been given an opportunity to respond.
“I only saw the reports when police started asking me questions about them. Even the public protector is asking for the same info he revealed.
The protector joined the fray after UDM’s president Bantu Holomisa wrote to the office pleading for it to investigate the Unit P tender.
Hawks national spokesman Paul Ramaloko could not confirm they were investigating the two tenders. However, a source close to the case confirmed the tenders were being investigated.
Hawks probe two BCM tenders
This was confirmed by BCM’s municipal manager Andile Fani yesterday.
The awarding of a R17-million black refuse bag tender and a R10million Mdantsane housing tender will be subjected to scrutiny.
This comes after council reportedly failed to act on two forensic reports completed by an external consultant last year.
Failure to act on such reports could result in the metro losing grant funding from national Treasury.
News of the investigations by the Hawks and protector comes after executive mayor Zukiswa Ncitha announced that forensic investigations in her office were not yet complete.
Speaking at a media briefing before the state of the metro address (Soma) at the Steve Biko Foundation Centre in Ginsberg, Ncitha said she was attending to the forensic reports.
She said she had also discussed the matter with Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.
MMB Consulting was appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding a R17-million contract to supply black refuse bags.
The three-year contract was awarded to Masiqhame Trading, owned by Cuan Surren Metune, the 27-year-old son of a former BCM employee and pastor Fabian Metune.
The housing tender for the completion of 150 houses was awarded in October last year to Imvusa Trading, owned by East London businessman and ANC regional leader Koko Godlo.
The tender was for the completion of an abandoned housing project in the metro’s Unit P outside Mdantsane.
Asked for more information on the forensic reports, Ncitha referred questions to Fani, saying she was rushing to deliver her speech and then to Port Elizabeth.
Fani was said to be at the centre of both tenders.
“Whether the reports have been finalised or not, I do not know. I only knew during the time when I was questioned only about Unit P. I was not asked about black plastic bags,” Fani said.
“All I know is that these two tenders are with the Hawks. I had a meeting with the Hawks and I had submitted my statement to them and it was the very first time I saw the reports.”
Fani explained that the reports were provisional and said he had not been given an opportunity to respond.
“I only saw the reports when police started asking me questions about them. Even the public protector is asking for the same info he revealed.
The protector joined the fray after UDM’s president Bantu Holomisa wrote to the office pleading for it to investigate the Unit P tender.
Hawks national spokesman Paul Ramaloko could not confirm they were investigating the two tenders. However, a source close to the case confirmed the tenders were being investigated.
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