Picture: Magalies Water logo/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
Magalies Water has refuted impropriety allegations over a tender to remove floating debris and plants in the Hartbeespoort Dam. Magalies Water spokesperson, David Magae said recent utterances made by several individuals with vested interest in the Crocodile West Catchment Water Resource Management Project, which includes the Hartbeespoort Dam are unsubstantiated.
“Magalies Water was duly appointed for a 36-month period to implement a remediation plan on behalf of the Department of Water and Sanitation. These individuals represent some of the service providers that participated in an open tender process recently.
“This appointment is part of the approved Water Resource Management Plan for the Crocodile West Catchment area, including the dam. The plan extends to outsourcing of numerous services in the process of achieving the objectives of the remediation plan,” he said.
Magae further said the Supply Chain Management processes were in line with Treasury regulations and applicable sections of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). He added that, the tender advert for this aspect of the project was published on Magalies Water’s website, national newspapers as well as the government etenders.gov.za digital platform.
“This was an open tender Magalies Water received from six submissions from interested bidders. The bids followed the normal SCM processes, which included the participation of the three bid committees, which Bid Specification, Bid Evaluation, and Bid Adjudication
“On 30 August 2023, after following all the SCM processes, Magalies Water issued a notice wherein the intention to appoint the successful bidder was made public,” said Magae.
He said on the notice, it was explicitly communicated that the public is welcome to raise objections/protests in respect of the intention to appoint the successful bidder.
Magae said prior to the issuance of the notice of intention to appoint, none of the bidders had raised concerns about the supply chain management processes, whether verbally or in writing.
“Magalies Water remains perturbed that individuals that participated in an open tender process, are making allegations of impropriety after the notice of intention to appoint a successful bidder was communicated publicly.
“As stated above, the public was invited to make written representations in the form of objections/protests and Magalies Water did not receive any such objections within the stipulated period, which led to the appointment of the successful bidder,” he said.
Magae said Magalies Water did not participate in that project referred to, which information made public, suggests that the project was sponsored by a Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) multinational company with a long-standing presence in the country.
He said South Africa has competent law enforcement agencies, established for investigating such matters of impropriety.
“As such, we urge anyone with information to hand it over to any competent law enforcement agency established in line with the provisions of the Constitution and any other applicable act as passed by the National Assembly to combat any form of crime, including what is regarded as a commercial crime for further investigations.
“As part of the turnaround strategy, Magalies Water has tailored a solution-based and needs-driven implementation plan. Activities in the implementation plan comprise of profiling of the water quality, installation of the nets as the buffers, the removal of floating plants and debris,” he said.
The Guardian 