Release contract details for Nkandla upgrade

Corruption Watch (CW) has written a letter to Minister of Public Works Thulas Nxesi to ask for a copy of the investigation report into the upgrade of President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla residence. In particular, the civil society organisation wants the Minister to publish the names of the companies or individuals who were awarded the contracts to perform the Nkandla upgrade.

"The information on the awarding of contracts does not fall within information relating to security measures and we see no reason for keeping this away from the public," said CW's executive director David Lewis.

Corruption Watch is concerned with the procurement process for the project: "Considering the public money spent on the upgrade, it is appropriate for the Minister to reveal the details of the tendering process as well as explain how the amounts mentioned in Sunday's press briefing were arrived at and budgeted for. Transparency around these issues will go a long way towards establishing public trust in the government."

Corruption Watch also wants to know whether projects that fall under the Department's ‘prestige portfolio', like the Nkandla upgrade, are subject to procurement rules as laid out in public finance management legislation.

Public procurement is one of the most common types of corruption reported to the civil society organisation. The letter to Minister of Public Works Thulas Nxesi is available at www.corruptionwatch.org.za.

Statement issued by David Lewis, Corruption Watch, January 28 2013

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