AfriForum to investigate R120 million Free State website tender

AfriForum will have the website tender issued by the Free State Government for over a hundred million rand investigated by an independent specialist. The civil rights organisation has, after 3 months, succeeded in obtaining the tender documents from the office of the Free State Premier, Ace Magashule, in Bloemfontein.

"The exorbitant amounts alone are worrying, and the further one reads through the documents, the clearer it becomes that there are too many discrepancies," said CW Els, Organiser for AfriForum in the Free State.

Website developers have commented widely on the tender. According to these experts, even the most expensive, extensive and interactive websites with strict security functions, should not be more expensive than a few hundred thousand rand.

The tender cost R119 680 231.00. 38 Websites of the Free State Government have to be upgraded and maintained over a period of four years (2011 to 2014).

Els said that the websites had not been updated yet. "The information on the sites is not current. According to the Tokologo Municipality the Municipal Manager who has been replaced in April is still in office. Contact details on various websites are incorrect and documents which should be on the sites in terms of legislation, are not there.

"Since 2011 more than R70 million has been spent, and R41 million more will be spent during 2013/2014. This is a clear example of tax money being wasted. And this while service delivery in the province is lacking. This money could have been spent on the water crisis instead," said Els. 

Cherry Online Design, Ikamva IT Solutions and Jugganaut are members of the consortium which was awarded the contract. The websites of two of these companies are substandard.

AfriForum encourages people to join the civil rights organisation to stem corruption. SMS the name of your town to 31336. 50c/SMS.

Statement issued by CW Els, Organiser: Free State, AfriForum, August 13 2013

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