11 Feb 2021

Procurement of armoured vehicles for the President’s security and  Office of the President refurbishment took place before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vice President Slumber Tsogwane told Parliament yesterday.

Responding during Leader of the House Question Time, Mr Tsogwane said recent media reports inferring that government recently spent large sums of public funds on the armoured vehicles during the pandemic were misleading.

Mr Tsogwane said the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DIS), which is responsible for the protection of the President, vice president, visiting heads of state and other very important persons (VIPs), awarded a tender worth just over P10 million for the vehicles.

Saying due process of Public Procurement and Assert Disposable Board (PPADB) procedures was followed, the vice president explained that the purchase was direct, not involving third parties.

Regarding the refurbishment of the Office of the President building, which he said was old and had structural defects that needed to be addressed, Mr Tsogwane explained that procurement for the project also took place prior to the pandemic.

Leader of the Opposition, Mr Dumelang Saleshando had asked the vice president to confirm the veracity of media reports  that the President had issued a directive for the purchase of five armoured vehicles for his use.

Mr Saleshando further sought to know whether the vehicles had been budgeted for; the department or ministry accounts that were utilised for the procurement as well as the agents if any, that were used for the procurement.

Mr Saleshando also wanted to know the amount paid to the agents, total costs associated with the transaction; and if there were plans to refurbish the Office of the President at a cost of P42 million as also reported in the media. ENDS