FF PLUS TO ASK SIU TO INVESTIGATE E-TOLL SYSTEM CONTRACTS
"The Freedom Front Plus will be asking the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to investigate the tender procedures which were followed with the awarding of contracts for the management of the Gauteng e-toll system. Information which have come to light in the media in recent times, indicate that various companies, subsidiaries of companies and individuals who have shares in companies, which are part of the consortium that secured the tender, were also involved in the government's arms deal in 1999," Adv. Anton Alberts, the FF Plus' parliamentary spokesperson on Transport said.
"The SIU will be asked to specifically investigate the similarities with companies which make up the consortium that obtained the e-toll tender and the companies, subsidiaries and share-holders of companies which had obtained contracts in the arms deal of 1999. It is important to establish whether there had been any improper influencing which lead to the same companies being awarded such huge tenders by the SA government. The SIU will also be asked to establish whether an improper advantage had been given to these companies due to their historical contracts with the ANC government," Adv. Alberts added.
The FF Plus has taken note of head of SANRAL, Mr. Nazir Alli's statements that the tender process was a "comprehensive process and was clean and clear and conducted in terms of Treasury requirements" but it appears on the surface of things that the information about the consortium which had received the tender and had also been involved in the arms deal, had not been emphasized and openly revealed to the public from the beginning.
SANRAL should have been aware of the controversy in South Africa and internationally surrounding the allegations of bribery and fraud which had been leveled against companies which had obtained tenders in the arms deal and should therefore have thought twice about the awarding of the e-toll tenders to these companies," is the opinion of Alberts.
Just as in the case of the arms deal, the e-toll system is costing South African taxpayers billions of rand. Therefore there should have been greater circumspect with the awarding of tenders to international companies who do not re-invest their profits in South Africa and who to date have not fulfilled their obligations in terms of their National Industrial Participation agreements with SA in terms of the arms deal. The investigation by the SIU will therefore be able to establish whether any company had been improperly advantaged with the awarding of the tender for the e-toll system.
Statement issued by Adv. Anton Alberts, FF Plus Parliamentary spokesperson: Transport, May 7 2012
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
