ROMANO Lottering (49), a community leader in Eden Park, is concerned about the process that was followed when awarding a tender to build a community swimming pool in Eden Park.
According to Romano, the company that won the bid is not on the list of companies who applied for the tender and he sees it as “blatant fraud and corruption”.
The RECORD is in possession of an official list of businesses that were named for the tender, and we can confirm that neither the company nor the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) are on the list.
Official comment from Ekurhuleni’s spokesperson, Themba Gadebe, reads as follows: “The tender for the construction was advertised last year from January 16 to February 19. The tender was cancelled on June 8 as there were no responses to it. To fast-track the process, the council decided to use the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) as its contractor. The DBSA followed its own procurement procedures and a contractor was appointed on September 29, 2015.”
Busi Vick, from the DBSA, told the RECORD: “A memorandum of agreement (MOA) has been signed between EMM and Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) for collaboration in establishing municipal infrastructure and improved service delivery outcomes. As an implementing agent, the DBSA then appoints contractors and service providers from its approved panel via a governed and transparent supply chain process.
“Various meetings with community members were held to try and establish the issues at hand and resolving them as part of the community facilitation process,” he added.
A meeting on 23 February was held with role players from EMM, DBSA, the Eden Park Community Forum and the contractor attending. The forum listed various demands which were not all met and the site was closed by angry community members. A further meeting was then held on 14 March with the HOD of Sports Recreation and Arts and Culture Department (SRAC) also in attendance, and some concerns were addressed, which led to the site being re-opened on 14 March.
The RECORD will keep readers updated with any further information as it becomes available.
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