STELLALANDER-VRYBURG: The Dr Ruth Segemotsi Mompati District Municipality in Vryburg allegedly approved R 38 million for a small informal metal frame and roof house that is said to be a Call Centre in Vryburg.
According to the District Municipal Manager, Ronnie Jonas, the call center was established in 2022 and housed sector departments for water, electricity and fire that will handle problems and have a turnaround time of 48 hours to resolve problems. On the very same premises where this prefabricated house was erected, is the Fire and Disaster Centre of Vryburg that houses a call centre -since 2014. It employees full-time workers paid by the municipality. This call centre is able to execute more functions and could have been upgraded for far less than R38 mill. According to the District Mayor, Maje it was actually ‘only’ R36 million that was approved for the service provider over a period of three years and not R38 mill. “The decision for this tender was taken by the previous council and the procurement process unfolded in December 2021. The appointment letter for the service provider was signed in January 2022 by the previous acting District Municipal Manager ,Collen Colane.” Colane told Stellalander that he could not recall what documents he signed in his period of Acting Municipal Manager and will have to check. Mayor Maje says that they have not paid the service provider for the last three months as they are awaiting reports according to the service level agreement. Mayor Maje further mentioned that R4.5 million was paid to the service provider after the appointment for the establishment that included all equipment. According to a source, the tender was recommended by the Adjudication committee and not during a special council meeting. The recommendation of this committee is then given to the Municipal Manager to sign the appointment letter. From the tender is advertised, the appointment must be made within a period of 90 days. Financial irregularities have occurred in terms of the 90 day period after the tender advertisement and appointment of a service provider has lapsed. According to District Municipal Manager Jonas, there were four bidders during the tenders awarded in 2021. Only one service provider recommendation was given to the Adjudication committee for approval. The norm is that more than one should be tabled to the committee who gives the final recommendation to the Municipal Manager. “The tender of R38 mill was approved and appointed for a period of three years.” The appointment letter of the service provider, Sandton-based wCyber Solutions was signed in December 2022. This service provider did not meet the criteria of the tender specifications. Questions and concerns were raised by the community about the relationship between the service provider and the tender committee.
Jonas said the structure of the call centre amounted to R1.8 mill and included the equipment and salaries of employees. “R4.5 mill was paid from January 2022 to the service provider,” said Jonas. Stellalander visited the controversial call centre and found all doors locked and blinds at windows drawn closed. No security guard or other person was found at the centre.
Stellalander enquired from Jonas about the telephone number of this call centre, but he could not furnish the number upon request.
