Controversial BCM selection committee disbanded

The controversial Buffalo City Metro selection committee that dished out millions of rand in tenders to a few handpicked companies has been disbanded — effective immediately.

The decision was taken at a council meeting on Wednesday night.

This follows queries from the office of the Eastern Cape auditor-general as to the committee’s legality.

Co-operative governance & traditional affairs MEC Xolile Nqatha has launched a forensic investigation into mayor Xola Pakati, city manager Andile Sihlahla, selection committee chair Sandile Sojini and infrastructure services political boss Sindile Toni after an anonymous source lodged a complaint with public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, urging her to probe irregularities with the selection committee.

The complainant singled out the three as being behind the selection committee, and said s/he was afraid for their life if their identity became known.

This is contained in a top secret document submitted in council on Wednesday night.

Mkhwebane’s office asked Nqatha to investigate the explosive allegations.

On Thursday, Nqatha’s spokesperson, Makhaya Komisa, confirmed the forensic investigation and said it would begin later in February. 

BCM chief whip Mawethu Marata sponsored the motion to disband the selection committee on Wednesday.

“From today onward, the selection committee is scrapped.

“All its activities are disbanded,” Marata said, to rapturous cheers from some quarters of the ANC caucus.

Vocal ward 25 ANC councillor Crosby Kolela threw his weight behind Marata.

“We will never hear the words [selection committee] again. The chief whip has spoken. I support him 100%,” Kolela said.

A top secret report, seen by the Daily Dispatch and authored by speaker Alfred Mtsi, appended the anonymous complaint to the public protector and a directive.

The complainant accused Pakati, Sihlahla and Sojini of flouting procurement policies and blaming them for the city's ballooning irregular expenditure.

On Thursday, Pakati’s spokesperson, Luzuko Buku, would not be drawn into discussing the report.

“We cannot comment on a secret report. That it is secret is telling of how it should be treated,” he said.

Toni said: “I'm not aware of any allegations against me. I do not have a company doing business with the municipality, let alone a company. I believe the system can detect if I have an active company.”

Sihlahla could not be reached for comment as his phones went straight to voicemail, while Sojini could not be contacted at the time of writing.

The Daily Dispatch reported in October that the selection committee had dished out tenders worth R270m to handpicked companies.

The complainant wrote that the selection committee was established under the guise that it would fast-track service delivery, even if it meant ignoring recommendations of bid committees.

The complainant said three construction companies, Makali Construction, Czar Construction and ASLA Construction, benefited the most from the committee.

“The committee seeks to benefit their own companies,” the anonymous complaint reads.

“These are companies [whose owners] are close friends of Mr Pakati and municipal manager Sihlahla.

“The year 2018 and 2019 have used the selection committee outside the legislated committee as a committee that is quicker to drive service delivery, ignoring recommendations of bid committees.”

In a letter penned by Nqatha to Mtsi dated October 9, the MEC appraises Mtsi about the complaint implicating senior government officials in the metro.

The back-and-forth correspondence shows that Mtsi forwarded the allegations to Sihlahla.

In the council meeting that sat on Wednesday, deputy mayor Zoliswa Matana said Sihlahla should strengthen the already existing tender awarding mechanisms.

Referring to the scrapping of the selection committee, ward 45 ANC councillor Gideon Norexe shouted: “I am personally over the moon.”

DA councillor Anathi Majeke welcomed the motion and queried if there would be legal implications around the tenders that were issued by the selections committee.

Responding to Majeke, Matana said: “I think the issue raised today is that we’ve buried this committee and we have agreed.

“That means there is no activity about this going forward.”

BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said the council would subject itself to any oversight process that sought to advance sound management and service delivery.