Madiba bust for Parliament 'an emergency procedure'

It says senior Parliament officials, however, insist that the process followed in awarding the R2.5m contract was not flawed as the legislature's supply chain management policy makes provision for a closed procedure to be followed in emergencies. According to the report, they also refused to say how Parliament decided to give the contract to Koketso Growth, a company owned by Dali Tambo, son of former ANC president Oliver Tambo. The company was commissioned to create the statue of Nelson Mandela at the Union Buildings, which was unveiled in December. Michael Coetzee, the secretary of Parliament, is quoted in the report as saying: 'I don't know about Dali Tambo, or how we arrived at him ... because I received a recommendation from the officials in the supply chain process as to the appropriateness of this group headed by Mr Tambo as the appropriate personalities to manufacture and construct the bust.' Coetzee said they opted for a closed tender where they sought a sole provider because of a tight deadline, the report states. The Sunday Times reports that payment of 80% of the cost was made to Koketso before the bust was completed - despite accepted government rules that this be done only on delivery, as stated in the parliamentary legal opinion commissioned by the supply management section in Parliament. Tambo directed inquiries to Parliament. Parliamentary spokesperson Luzuko Jacobs said the 2.2m bust would be unveiled on 28 April in front of the National Assembly steps. Full Mail & Guardian Online report Full Sunday Times report (subscription needed)