Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has found no evidence that former Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane interfered in several water projects. | JasonFelix
Letters showed that on 27 August 2014, LNW wrote to National Treasury informing them that they had been appointed as an implementing agent by the DWS.
“As such LNW had appointed LTE on deviation due to the emergency nature of the project. On 28 August 2014, LTE issued South Zambezi LTD with an appointment letter for engineering and project management services,” she said.Mkhwebane said LTE’s appointment was on a turnkey basis. "A turnkey solution or project means a type of a project that is constructed so that it can be sold or handed over to the owner as a complete product. LTE then undertook the entire responsibility from designs throughout completion of the project. Midiyavhathu Kennedy Tshivhase further stated that at the time of the project, LNW did not have a panel of service providers when it was appointed by the DWS as an implementer in respect of the project.
“The AG report stated that the top rate for a consultant working at the level of a Director was R1 383/hour according to the DPSA scales and the top rate for a registered professional principal was R1 448 according to the DPW scales. LTE was claiming up to R3 500/hour. Due to the fact that this project was never placed on tender, LTE was allowed to charge any rate that they desired. This was not value for money, fair, equitable, competitive or cost-effective,” she said.
In the end Mkhwebane could not establish from the evidence that Mokonyane had given a direct instruction for LNW to award the project to LTE.She also found the allegation that Mokonyane was involved in tender irregularities in the remaining three projects, were unsubstantiated.to receive the information you want in your inbox. Special newsletters are available to subscribers.In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust.