Tender scandal hits Justice Department

The company apparently also had prior knowledge of the tender, according to a City Press report. It says an audit report in its possession shows how department officials flouted regulations and policies relating to the award of a tender for the transformation of the Justice College – the government’s premier training institution for judges, prosecutors and other officials whose work relates to the administration or implementation of the law. The report has been prepared for Justice director-general Menzi Simelane. It says the awarding of a tender to Mbisa Consortium for about R40m while another company, Pro-MTR, had offered to do the same job for R23m less, raised questions on the apparent ‘serious irregularities with regard to the award of the tender to Mbisa’. The officials who took the decision include a deputy director-general who also heads the college, Jacqui Ngeva, chief directors ¬Elijah Tladi and Shuli Chikane and a director, Andrew Mokone. Department spokesperson Zolile Nqayi said: ‘We have cancelled the contract and taken disciplinary steps against (some of) the implicated officials. The matter has also been handed over to the police for a criminal investigation.’ Nqayi said only Tladi was suspended allegedly because ‘there was more compelling evidence against him’. Full City Pres report