Minister Ndebele on Competition Commission and Construction Firms
3 Feb 2011
We are distressed and concerned at the news that South African construction companies had been found by the Competition Commission to have colluded on the costing of 2010 FIFA World Cup projects. We are equally shocked and saddened at this news which, according to the Competition Commission, resulted in the taxpayer paying more for the World Cup infrastructure.
The Commission says bids in projects such as World Cup soccer stadiums, the Gautrain and various road construction projects were affected.
Government spent staggering amounts of rands in readiness for the 2010 World Cup. The transport sector spend included R25 billion for the Gautrain, R19 billion for the Airports Development Programme and R23 billion for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Scheme.
That we were possibly robbed leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. This finding by the Competition Commission raises a number of issues.