Political parties in the City of Tshwane want the findings of the Rooiwal forensic report implemented to ensure accountability for those behind irregular expenditure of R292m in the wastewater treatment plant upgrades.
The report recommends that five senior officials face criminal charges for failing to follow proper supply chain management processes.
Tshwane mayor Randall Williams tabled the report during a council meeting on Thursday but it was withdrawn due to a number of issues raised by councillors.
ActionSA provincial leader Bongani Baloyi said the report had been deferred three times before last week.
“There appears to be forces at work to prevent the consideration of this report,” he said.
During the meeting, political parties complained about being given a summarised version of the 113-page forensic report compiled by Ligwa Advisory Services.
The officials implicated in the report formed part of the municipality’s bid and evaluation committee that recommended CMS Water Projects, NJR Projects and Blackhead Ventures be appointed for phase one of the construction project, which started in October 2019.
Since 2005, the community of Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, had struggled with access to clean drinking water, and had had to contend with brown murky water coming from their taps.
The Rooiwal wastewater refurbishment project was meant to put an end to this misery. The project, however, is on hold after the City of Tshwane terminated the contract .
According to the report, the project is about 80% complete and more work still needs to be done.
The ANC and EFF agreed with ActionSA that a full detailed report must be tabled in council.
EFF regional leader Obakeng Ramabodu said what was tabled on Thursday was not a forensic report but a summary.
“Our view is that what was presented in council was poorly written, doesn’t look like a forensic report and the recommendations are the purging of black officials working in procurement.
“Many things are missing in that report because there are certain steps to follow according to the awarding of contracts, which include the bid evaluating committee [BEC], bid adjudicating committee, the CFO and city manager. The report is silent on the BEC, CFO and city manager.”
Williams’ chief of staff, Jordan Griffiths, said it was the mayor who called for the initial investigation report.
“It was then the executive mayor that called for the initial special council, where the report was going to be tabled. This meeting was disrupted. The executive mayor then called for another special council meeting, which the speaker adjourned without concluding on the report.
“At the ordinary meeting [on] September 27, the council report did, in fact, serve at council. However, the meeting was then adjourned by the speaker before a final decision was taken. That council meeting will be convened to continue this week,” Griffiths said.
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