DA failed procurement process with political involvement
The ANC noted the latest major acknowledgments of transgression by the DA leader and premier in awarding the multi-million Rand communication contract to TBWA\ Hunt Lascaris by the provincial government of the Western Cape.
This is but one in a series of admittances Western Cape Premier Helen Zille made to "some mistakes", "administrative problems", "short-comings" and also "we fell short of best practise when awarding the tender..." In the same breath she denies anything improper, corrupt and unlawful or any wrongdoing.
Yet, to a number of NGO's she continued to make concessions that the supply chain management (SCM) processes were put at "potential risk", the "potential for a serious conflict of interest exists", setting a "dangerous precedent" to have her political advisor present in stages of the process, "mistakes" made with the procedures followed and that civil society concern about this was warranted.
"The most significant is the information that an advisor reporting to her was indeed present during the tender process. This is extending the political tentacle of her and office into the SCM process, which in turn makes her or other parties privy to privileged information and compromises the SCM system.
"The ANC maintains these transgressions tarnished the SCM with political involvement every step of the way to the point where it may be deemed null and void. It is tantamount to collusive relations that are conducive to breeding grounds for corrupt activities.
"There are no small transgressions in SCM. No undertaking of how things may be done in future will undo the mistakes made. The system was put under severe pressure and failed the objectives for good governance and competitive procurement.
"Justice is blind and the Rule of Law must be applied at all cost. No one - not even the premier - may pre-empt the outcome of current official investigation processes to get to the bottom of this travesty," says the ANC.
Statement issued by Songezo Mjongile, ANC Western Cape provincial secretary, September 15 2011
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