Fransman appears before Scopa over millions spent on consultants

Marius Fransman appears before the Western Cape Legislature over a probe into his tenure as public works MEC during which millions of rand were spent on consultants. Picture: Jason Boud / ANA Pictures

Marius Fransman appears before the Western Cape Legislature over a probe into his tenure as public works MEC during which millions of rand were spent on consultants. Picture: Jason Boud / ANA Pictures

Published Sep 14, 2017

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Disgraced former ANC provincial chairperson Marius Fransman has told his detractors, who were poised for another strike at his political career, that the only time he would be down and out was when he was dead.

He made his first appearance before the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) in the Western Cape Legislature yesterday to account on the use of consultants in his department during his tenure as public works MEC.

“Let me clear here. Cowboys don’t cry easily,” Fransman told journalists after the meeting.

Scopa sat in July and was briefed by accounting officers from the departments of health and public works and transport, based on the auditor-general’s (AG) report into the use of consultants in both departments.

The AG also briefed the committee on the findings of a performance audit into both departments, which saw millions of rand spent on

consultants.

The report was based on findings made on a sample of 11 consultancy projects with contracts amounting to R625 million for health, while 20 of the audited projects for public works stood at R328m.

The AG said the total spend on consultants amounted to R9.2 billion (for both departments) from 2008 to 2011.

Chief financial officer at transport and public works advocate Chantal Smith said at the time there was nothing wrong with the contracts.

Fransman also said there was certain legislation that prohibited MECs and ministers from involving themselves in the tender process.

The meeting yesterday was heated from the beginning with MPLs having a go at each other. Scopa chairperson Ferlon Christians said most of the matters raised by the DA MPLs were explained and dealt with in previous meetings with accounting officers of the respective departments.

ANC MPL Carol Beerwinkel also objected to the DA MPLs’ questions.

Fransman, however, said he was willing to answer any questions.

“But we need to be fair here. If the premier (Helen Zille) can simply say that she cannot get involved in the tender process (because she is the premier), why can I not say that?”

Fransman also pointed out that the head of the public works department Jacqueline Gooch said the projects flagged for irregular expenditure included 11 items worth R63.8m, which had been accounted for by the relevant authorities and a further 10 for R89m that were found to be invalid.

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