01 Jul 2019

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Ms Dorcas Makgato, has told North East District councillors that awarding of tenders in the ministry remains a concern.

Addressing a full council sitting in Masunga, she stated that the Ministerial Tender Committee was marred by queries from contractors, something that caused delays in the awarding of tenders.

She said the law allowed for queries in the tendering process, therefore some contractors were taking advantage of this provision to query even ‘when it is not legitimate.’

Ms Makgato said her ministry was working with PPADB to investigate thoroughly if queries were legitimate and also close any loopholes in the query clause so that corrupt practices would not be used to delay the tendering process.

Minister Makgato further revealed that certain officers in her ministry connived with contractors to challenge the ministry’s decisions.

“Some contractors are being facilitated to query by our officers and this is institutionalised corruption, which should be dealt with,” she said

She stated that her ministry was experiencing a challenge with burrow pit owners who hiked prices when dealing with government, hence the decision  for acquiring of licenses directly from the Department of Mines instead of acquiring sand and gravel from individuals.

Addressing the delays in the re-awarding of Tshesebe/Masunga road, the minister stated that the tender was submitted to PPADB on June 20 for adjudication following a selective tendering process.

She stated that this was one of the tenders that were marred by queries following termination of Bash Carriers last year, which therefore caused delays for re-tendering.

Ms Makgato said her ministry had gone directly to the department of mines to acquire aggregates for sourcing gravel because lack of gravel due to price hiking had been cited as one of the major causes of non-performance of the terminated contractor Bash Carriers.

With regard to Francistown/Matsiloje road marking project, the minister stated that the former contractor would be reinstated following findings that the contractor was terminated unlawfully.

She highlighted that the resealing of Mulambakwena / Ramokgwebana road was at MTC for adjudication, adding that she believed the process would not take long so that the tender is awarded this year. Councilor William Tatose of Senyawe ward had asked the minister on progress of Tshesebe/Masunga road, since it was almost a year after contract termination.

Mr Tatose further asked when the Francistown/Matsiloje road marking would be completed following termination of the contractor. 

Councilor Paulos Nkoni of Mapoka ward asked the minister to keep an eye on the MTC and PPADB in order to eliminate any unethical practices.

Councilor Peggy Senthufe of Ditladi ward asked the minister to consider upgrading the Ditladi -Patayamatebele road to bitumen standards because the villages had farmers who sold their produce to Francistown, but were affected by bad road network.

Councillor Mbaakanyi Smart of Mosojane ward informed the minister that some of the occupants within the Tshesebe/Masunga road network had not moved to give way for the road, which he said would cause more delays when the tender was re-awarded.

He also asked the ministry to expand culverts within the Mulambakwena/Ramokgwebana road when they reseal it in order to allow for two cars to cross at the bridge intersection simultaneously.

Gulubane ward councillor, Mr Dikitso Mandevu pleaded with the minister to consider upgrading Gulubane to Sechele and Letsholathebe road to bitumen standards because it was the shortest route connecting the district to A3 road.

 

He stated that people travelled 72 kilometres from Masunga to A3 road via Sebina when they could be travelling 21 kilometres through Letsholathebe up to Hubona. ENDS