DA to request Pikitup MD to appear before Section 79 Oversight Committee
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the City of Johannesburg will be writing to the Chairperson of the Section 79 oversight committee on Infrastructure, Services and Environment to request that Pikitup MD, Amanda Nair, appear before the committee.
The MD needs to urgently explain the serious allegations which have been made regarding the the awarding of Johannesburg's R263 million Pikitup tender to Aqua Transport Plant Hire. According to recent reports in the Star newspaper, the tender was awarded to this company despite serious allegations of fraud. This followed an investigation by Ernst and Young into Aqua Transport Plant Hire, at the request of Pikitup to the tune of R6 million (see report).
Ernst and Young made several recommendations to Pikitup including that Aqua Transport Plant Hire took part in alleged tender collusion and should be criminally charged. The R263 million tender was subsequently awarded to the Aqua Transport Plant Hire despite these allegations.
Historically, Pikitup has been one of the worst run entities in the City Johannesburg due to poor management and lack of proper oversight by the Executive. Employees accuse the management of treating them with contempt and sensitive information is leaked to the press. Allegations abound of phones being tapped, e-mails being read by management and private security guards being employed to keep the management safe. In the meantime, the MD of Pikitup, Amanda Nair, ascribes all of this to disaffected employees who are feeling the pressure of organizational transformation.
The Managing Director needs to urgently explain to the Committee why she awarded this tender. She also needs to explain why she is ignoring the recommendations of Ernst and Young after spending R6 million of public money to conduct the initial investigation.
Statement issued by Alan Fuchs, DA Johannesburg Pikitup Spokesperson, June 28 2013
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