10 Jun 2020

North West District Council secretary, Mr Motlogelwa Thuso has refuted reports that the council has terminated an over P1 million tender awarded to Maphoi Toilet Paper.

The toilet paper making company, which is based in Maun, was engaged by the council to supply toilet paper to the two sub-district councils of Maun Administrative Authority (MAA) and Okavango Sub-council for three months starting April to June 2020.

The toilet papers were to be distributed to all primary schools in the district.

Maphoi Toilet Paper making company, which comprises of 11 members, was assisted under the Poverty Eradication Programme in 2017. Members are complaining that the council had terminated the tender.

It was reported that MAA ordered 5 035 bales of paper toilet valued over P1 million in March while Okavango placed an order of 1 356 bales worth over P270 000.

Mr Thuso explained that the supplier was awarded the tender through direct procurement in an effort to support the company, but that it failed to meet contractual obligations.

He said a default notice was written to them to come up with a plan on how they would catch up, but that there was no response.

He said they ended up engaging the supplier to revisit the tender as they were failing to deliver, and that a verbal agreement was reached to reduce the amount needed. He said they agreed  to supply 1 600 bales out of the 5 035 ordered by MAA.

The supplier, he said, advanced some reasons for failure to supply such as frequent breakdown of machines and shortage of raw materials. He said the council had to come up with a mitigation strategy as the schools were re-opening hence the agreement to reduce the burden on them.

“We did not terminate the contract, but we realised we were over-burdened hence we agreed to reduce the workload and place orders from other suppliers because we were running out of time,” he added.

Mr Thuso noted that Maphoi collected the purchase order in April and agreed that the first batch would be delivered end of April, but that it did not happen.

He said the first batch was delivered early May, and the second batch mid-May.

At Okavango, he said only 400 bales had been received, noting that the first batch was received early May while the second arrived mid-May.

Mr Thuso stressed that they could not just terminate the contract, adding that  they wanted to empower project beneficiaries.

For her part, Maphoi vice chairperson, Ms Mama Hauanga said they were shocked to learn that they had been disqualified because the council said they were too slow.

She acknowleged that they encountered challenges such as shortage of material, adding that the council could have considered that.

Their project, she said, was not doing well in terms of sales, noting that they enjoyed support from the office of the district commissioner and land board.

Ms Gaebonegwe Masake, who is the secretary, concurred that they were happy that the tender would boost the project as they struggled with marketing.

She said they needed between 25 and 30 big rolls of raw material. Ends