Protector: award tenders on merit

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela. File picture: Masi Losi

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela. File picture: Masi Losi

Published Jul 31, 2012

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Public Protector Thuli Madonsela on Monday called for construction contracts to be awarded on merit to save state resources.

“It is in the interest of organs of state that are in charge of the human settlements programme to do so because it is costing billions to fix the shoddy work done by some of the fly-by-nights,” she said in a statement.

Madonsela was speaking during a meeting in Bloemfontein on Monday, as part of her office's investigation of RDP housing.

She said the country was facing a “huge battle” because of badly-built RDP houses.

Her comments followed allegations that the Free State provincial government was awarding tenders on the basis of political allegiance.

Madonsela said she heard of people who operated “briefcase” construction companies and were often awarded tenders to undertake massive projects, which they did not have the capacity to execute.

She asked the public to bring evidence to back up the allegations they made.

“We can never make findings on the basis of a hunch or on the basis of a rumour.”

Local residents raised concerns about long waiting lists, houses without toilets, incomplete housing projects, and houses that were inaccessible to the disabled. - Sapa

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