Alfred Nzo district municipality is under fire for paying a company millions for 100 water tanks.
The tanks were bought around February to be distributed to communities during the drought.
In a document to be discussed in council it is recorded that a company was paid R2.5-million to supply only 100 Jojo tanks to the municipality.
This means each tank cost more than R250 00 including delivery.
A national hardware store priced them at R2 300 for a 2200-litre tank, R4 700 a 5000-litre tank and R11 000 a 10000-litre tank before delivery.
The expenditure was part of a deviations report for the month of February.
Deviations means that the municipality did not follow normal procurement processes to acquire the goods.
Alfred Nzo spokesman Luyanda Majenge said the tanks were bought for Ntabankulu, Matatiele and Mbizana municipality during the severe drought.
“The Ntabankulu dam, which supplies the town and surrounding villages, has completely dried up.
“It has since been closed, as it was pumping mud.
“Matatiele Dam, supplying the town and its surrounding areas, also dried up, and has since been closed as well.”
In response, the municipality implemented intervention strategies which include water carting.
To ease the drought situation in all areas the municipality bought 100 water tanks of 10000-litre capacity each to be placed strategically in all towns across the district.
He said the municipality had checked local hardware stores for 10000-litre tanks and that they cost more than R10000.
“Each water tank has a concrete stand constructed for it.
“This was an emergency procurement as many communities across the district had no water.
“The water sources could not cope with the demand.”
Opposition parties said the expenditure was wasteful, and had not been aimed at benefiting communities but the pockets of those in power.
DA councillor Bandile Mbewu said his party was shocked to discover that the municipality had paid such huge sums of money for the “overpriced” water tanks.
“It is a fruitless and wasteful expenditure to spend such a huge amount of money on only 100 tanks.
“First of all they did not follow procurement processes and the cost of each of the tanks is way more than a normal Jojo tank costs.
“We are going to approach the public protector about this and other things.
“If it is found that there was foul play in this tender, then the law must take its course.”
African Independent Congress councillor Ayanda Mbizafa said he has not seen a single tank in Matatiele even though the service provider was paid.
“It is a way of wasting taxpayers’ money. We reject any form of looting.
“There are people who are looting taxpayers’ money under the pretence of delivering services to the people.
“Maybe the tanks are still coming, but we have not seen these tanks.” — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
Outcry at R2.5m on 100 water tanks
The tanks were bought around February to be distributed to communities during the drought.
In a document to be discussed in council it is recorded that a company was paid R2.5-million to supply only 100 Jojo tanks to the municipality.
This means each tank cost more than R250 00 including delivery.
A national hardware store priced them at R2 300 for a 2200-litre tank, R4 700 a 5000-litre tank and R11 000 a 10000-litre tank before delivery.
The expenditure was part of a deviations report for the month of February.
Deviations means that the municipality did not follow normal procurement processes to acquire the goods.
Alfred Nzo spokesman Luyanda Majenge said the tanks were bought for Ntabankulu, Matatiele and Mbizana municipality during the severe drought.
“The Ntabankulu dam, which supplies the town and surrounding villages, has completely dried up.
“It has since been closed, as it was pumping mud.
“Matatiele Dam, supplying the town and its surrounding areas, also dried up, and has since been closed as well.”
In response, the municipality implemented intervention strategies which include water carting.
To ease the drought situation in all areas the municipality bought 100 water tanks of 10000-litre capacity each to be placed strategically in all towns across the district.
He said the municipality had checked local hardware stores for 10000-litre tanks and that they cost more than R10000.
“Each water tank has a concrete stand constructed for it.
“This was an emergency procurement as many communities across the district had no water.
“The water sources could not cope with the demand.”
Opposition parties said the expenditure was wasteful, and had not been aimed at benefiting communities but the pockets of those in power.
DA councillor Bandile Mbewu said his party was shocked to discover that the municipality had paid such huge sums of money for the “overpriced” water tanks.
“It is a fruitless and wasteful expenditure to spend such a huge amount of money on only 100 tanks.
“First of all they did not follow procurement processes and the cost of each of the tanks is way more than a normal Jojo tank costs.
“We are going to approach the public protector about this and other things.
“If it is found that there was foul play in this tender, then the law must take its course.”
African Independent Congress councillor Ayanda Mbizafa said he has not seen a single tank in Matatiele even though the service provider was paid.
“It is a way of wasting taxpayers’ money. We reject any form of looting.
“There are people who are looting taxpayers’ money under the pretence of delivering services to the people.
“Maybe the tanks are still coming, but we have not seen these tanks.” — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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