Is Vessel Contract Back with Sekunjalo?

The DA has issued this statement today.

Reports today have revealed that the tender for the maintenance of patrol vessels in the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has been awarded to Nautic Africa. The decision is significant because Nautic Africa was formerly known as KND – which formed part of the R800 million Sekunjalo tender bid. 

The responsibility to maintain the vessels was awarded to the SA Navy after the contract with Sekunjalo was cancelled. 

The latest report however means the contract has been rewarded to a company with links to the Iqbal Surve owned Sekunjalo. The decision comes after the fisheries Deputy Director-General Greta Apelgren-Narkedien reassured members of the media at a press conference that Smit Amandla, Sekunjalo and companies associated to it would not be allowed to bid for the contract.

The Minister has once again misled the public and acted unethically in the reissuing of this tender to the same group, while using a different name. 

As part of the on-going investigation by the Public Protector Thuli Madonsela – which I called for – I will be requesting her to expand the scope of the probe to involve the second issuing of the tender. 

If the Minister assumed she would be able to force this through undetected, she was mistaken. 

I will continue to ask further parliamentary questions as to how the contract was issued and which processes were followed. 

Minister Joemat-Pettersson must not be allowed to continue running the department to the ground.