ANC POLITICIAN'S WIFE GOT R554 000 CONTRACT WITHOUT TENDER

The Gauteng Department of Economic Affairs has revealed in a written reply to my questions that there was no advertising for the R554 000 training contract that Mrs Joeline Hlongwa, wife of ANC politician Brian Hlongwa (currently Chief Whip in the Legislature), got from this department in 2008 for her company Abundant Living CC.

The contract was for a women's empowerment workshop in June/July 2008 that included manicures and massages at a luxury hotel. I now see why the department has dodged my question ever since I first tabled it in January last year.

Firstly, it shows that an additional R154 000 was spent on training by Abundant Living over and above the R400 000 contract that was first reported.

Secondly, according to Economic affairs MEC Qedani Mahlangu "There were no adverts placed, three companies were identified and quotations were requested".

The three companies were Abundant Living CC, Billy Selekane and Associate and MMS Management Solution, but the latter does not even appear on CIPRO as a registered company.

According to Mahlangu: "These companies were identified based on the service package they were offering as per the specifications outlined by the Department".

This is very fishy, but Mahlangu says that "no investigation will be conducted as this matter falls within the three previous financial years".

I think this is pathetic. The department takes more than a year to answer a simple question, and then says that it is too long ago for an investigation.

It really looks like a cover-up.

I am referring this to the Auditor-General for investigation as we need to remove any suspicion that relatives of politicians are possibly favoured in the award of contracts.

Statement by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Caucus Leader, Gauteng Legislature, March 24 2011

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter