SANRAL MUST DISCLOSE ALL TOLL CONTRACTS
The SA National Roads Agency (SANRAL) must disclose all the 33 sub-contracts involved with the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) consortium that running the e-tolls on Gauteng Highways (see Sunday Times report).
This is after disturbing reports today about ANC links to companies that will benefit from the e-tolling.
According to the Sunday Times, ETC has only disclosed nine of the 33 sub-contracts. This includes catering company Tsebo Holdings, which is 15% owned by Nozala Investments and 15% by Lereko. Nozala is headed by Salukazi Dakile-Hlongwane, a trustee of ANC front company Chancellor House, and. Lereko is owned by former environment minister Valli Moosa and Chancellor House trustee Popo Molefe;
Another company is GijimaAST, which is 35%-owned by well-known ANC backer Robert Gumede, which was awarded a multimillion-rand contract to design and run the entire IT system for the project
SANRAL and ETC have stymied DA attempts to obtain details of these sub-contracts. In September last year the DA submitted an application under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to both SANRAL and ETC to disclose full details of the tolling contract.
Thet have told us that this cannot be done as there are confidentiality agreements with all the sub-contractors and their agreement needs to be obtained for any disclosure.
Why all the secrecy on contracts paid with public money?
This feeds all sorts of speculation that needs to be put to rest, including a possible link to an arms deal company.
I have received acknowledgement from Myolisi Zweni, Executive assistant to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, concerning my referral of the toll contracts to her for investigation.
It is vital that this investigation goes ahead so that we know the truth about who benefits from these controversial contracts, and whether there was any corruption.
Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Caucus Leader, May 6 2012
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