The North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Gaoage Oageng Molapisi, has directed the Head of Department (HoD), Moss Kgantsi, to institute an internal investigation on a tender awarded to Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services valued at R134 million.
MEC Molapisi has confirmed receiving a report and ordered an independent forensic investigation to be instituted as a matter of urgency.
The report indicates that the department has no record of any official contract termination concerning the two abandoned projects, but only a "notice of termination'' was issued to the contractor, Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services.
Moreover, the termination processes were never concluded. Equally, there was no process to register a complaint against the contractor, said the MEC.
"It is an anomaly that a project is abandoned, nothing is said about it, and officials continue with business as usual. I demand accountability for this negligence and waste of taxpayers' money," Molapisi maintained.
In finding a permanent solution, MEC Molapisi has directed the HoD, Kgantsi, to immediately terminate the department's contract with Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services.
Molapisi has also outlined the following terms of reference to guide the independent forensic investigation: Investigation of the appointment of Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services for contract PWR 127/14 from Khunotswana Village towards the N4 hghway, to the total amount of R134 million.
Investigation of project management on the following contract; (a) PWR 09/17B-FA23 for Patch and reseal of road D521 from road P51/1 in Segwaelane to Wonderkop.
The appointed service provider was Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services; (b) PWR 09/17D FA-24: Patch and Reseal of Road P63/1 from Letlhabile to Hebron (Gauteng Border), including intersection improvement on the Mangope Highway.
The appointed service provider was Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services. Investigations on any other abandoned projects by Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services.
"The HoD must appoint an independent forensic investigation in line with the terms of reference provided, and within six weeks of appointment, the investigation should be concluded.
“The investigation outcomes will be made public, and whatever remedial actions recommended by the final report will be actioned to the latter, including consequence management recommended," said Molapisi.
Molapisi has also urged members of the public to report any allegations of possible malfeasance to relevant authorities, including law enforcement agencies.
Mo Media contacted the MEC spokesperson, Lerato Gambu, to clarify what grounds compelled the MEC to instruct the HoD to conduct an internal forensic investigation.
"No one has been taken to court at this stage. An internal investigation is aimed to understand how the decision to appoint a contractor who abandoned the two projects happened. The information from the internal investigation report prompted the MEC to call for an independent forensic investigation," said Gambu.
