DA CALLS FOR INQUIRY INTO TOLL ROAD CONTRACTS

An independent investigation is needed into the award of the contracts for the Gauteng toll roads.

It is very suspicious that ANC big wigs like Tokyo Sexwale and Bulelani Ngcuka benefited from the R20 billion Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project as revealed in today's Sunday Independent (see here).

According to the newspaper, Sexwale was linked to Group Five construction which won two toll road contracts in 2008 worth R3.5 billion as part of the Siyavaya Joint Venture. Ngcuka reportedly benefited through Basil Read construction, which won two portions of the project worth R1.7 billion.

Other politically connected elites who reportedly made money from Gauteng road contracts include former Home Affairs director-general Mavuso Msimang and former National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Sipho Ngwema.

We need to know whether there was any political influence in the award of these contracts and whether we got good value for money. We may well have been ripped off as construction companies have been accused by the Competition Commission of collusion and tender rigging.

This is an extremely serious matter as Gauteng's economic growth is threatened by the planned toll fees to pay for these roads. A proper investigation should establish the facts and reclaim money if underhand dealings are found.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Caucus Leader, Gauteng Legislature, March 13 2011

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