PUBLIC PROTECTOR ASKED TO INVESTIGATE BUILDING OF POLICE STATIONS

The Freedom Front Plus has asked the Public Protector to investigate the building of the Inanda and Pienaar (Mpumalanga ) Police stations. The initial tender was set to be R55 million but in the end it cost R134 million. The Public Protector has also been asked to further investigate alleged irregularities with the issuing of tenders and possible advantaging of Midway Two (see report in The Star).

Midway Two obtained various contracts from the Police Service and allegations are now being made that costs of the trip of the former head of the SAPS Supply Chain Management, Lieutenant-general Hamilton Hlela, to the Rugby World Cup in France in 2007 had been paid by Midway Two.

"It appears as if a cat nest of irregularities had taken place with the awarding of tenders in the Police Service. Millions of rand of the taxpayers is at stake here and the public has to receive the assurance that taxpayer's money is being used correctly. I am aware that Gen. Bheki Cele had asked the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) under the leadership of Willie Hofmeyr to investigate the case, but I am asking the Public Protector (PP) to also investigate the matter as the report of the PP is submitted to Parliament and the report of the SIU is not necessarily handed to Parliament. In Parliament the portfolio committee can deal with it and it is therefore not merely a report for the Commissioner of Police," Mr. Pieter Groenewald, the chief spokesperson on Police for the Freedom Front Plus said.

Letter to the Public Protector:

 27 July 2011. 

Adv. Thuli Madonsela
The Public Protector
Private Bag X 677
PRETORIA
7000

Dear Advocate,

CONTRACTS FOR THE BUILDING OF POLICE STATIONS

The abovementioned issue has reference.

It was reported in the media today (The Star 27 July 2011) that the Inanda and Pienaar Police stations had to be built at a cost of R55 million but in the end it cost taxpayers R134 million. In the same report a number of allegations are made of irregularities with the issuing of tenders and former members of the Police are implicated in this, i.e. Lieutenant-General Hamilton Hlela, Lieutenant-General Matthews Siwundla and Major-General Stefanus Terblanche.

A further allegation of irregularity is made that Midway Two had obtained virtually all SAPS contracts. Allegations of irregularities with the awarding of a R1 million contract to obtain communication equipment in the Eastern Cape are also made in the media reports.

I am aware that the Special Investigations Unit is already busy with an investigation but I request that you, as the Public Protector, also investigate these issues, as millions of rand of taxpayers are at stake here and that you present your report to Parliament.

Thanking you in advance,

Respectfully

PJ GROENEWALD (MP)

Statement issued by Mr. Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus Chief Spokesperson: Police, July 27 2011

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