ActionSA is pleased that the Tshwane City Council today has finally passed the report on the forensic investigation into the appointment of the contractor to undertake the refurbishment of the Rooiwal Wastewater Works. This after endless attempts by ActionSA where, on four occasions, the Tshwane City Council inexplicably deferred this report.

This investigation arises from a motion brought by ActionSA earlier this year after the party found that work on the Rooiwal Wastewater Works refurbishment contract stalled, negatively affecting the drinking water of the communities of Rooiwal and Hammanskraal. In August, the party successfully advocated for the termination of the contract, previously awarded to a joint venture of companies owned by known Gupta-acquaintance Edwin Sodi, 

Yesterday, Council passed the report with additional recommendations made by ActionSA. The party’s recommendations included that the City Manager implements the report’s recommendations and that further investigations be conducted into role-players beyond just those individuals implicated. ActionSA also recommended that this report be referred to the Municipal Public Accounts Committees (MPAC) to monitor the implementation thereof.

The report’s passing followed months of delays and obstruction tactics by the ANC caucus - in clear partnership with the EFF caucus - aimed at preventing the report from seeing the light of day.

ActionSA has long held that the contract entered into by the city was patently illegal after holding its own commission of inquiry into the Hammanskraal water crisis in 2020. The water crisis in Hammanskraal and Rooiwal has been an ongoing human rights violation for nearly two decades, negatively affecting the health of thousands of people in the area.  

Amongst the many reasons ActionSA contends this tender was corrupt, are the following:  

It amounted to a R295 million award to a joint venture with both companies owned by Edwin Sodi for the upgrade of the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant.  

Neither company in the joint venture had any experience in this kind of project.  

The joint venture did not have the required funds for site establishment. The City of Tshwane paid R1 million upfront to float the costs of site establishment. 

The joint venture, in contravention of the supply chain policies of the City of Tshwane, had to be ceded R71 million upfront because it lacked the resources for the initial capital outlay.  

When the adjudication committee cancelled the tender award, the City of Tshwane inexplicably did not defend its decision in the legal proceedings brought by the joint venture. 

ActionSA brought a motion to Council for the matter to be investigated and we are pleased that we are one step closer to justice for the people of this community.

ActionSA will drive the expeditious appointment of a new and competent service provider, following due process, and ensure greater transparency in the project timeline to avoid similar issues from arising in future. 

The party remains resolute to root out all elements of corruption in the Tshwane metropolitan municipality, but also in the rest of South Africa. Thereby, ActionSA aims to ensure better service delivery for all. 

 

Issued by ActionSA Gauteng Provincial Chairperson Bongani Baloyi