Special Tribunal to hear Beitbridge Border Post Fence case
The Special Tribunal of South Africa is set to hear an urgent application to freeze the bank accounts belonging to two contractors that were involved in the construction of the Beitbridge Border Post fence in Limpopo.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure allegedly paid an advance amount of R21, 8 million for the construction of the 40 kilometre borderline razor mesh fence at the Beitbridge Border post between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Spokesperson for the Special Tribunal of the Republic of South Africa Selby Makgotho says the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has approached them to recover the money lost.
"Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has approached the Special Tribunal for an order freezing the bank accounts of Caledon River Properties (Pty) Ltd and Profteam CC (cited as first and second respondents) in an effort to recover an amount of R21, 8 million and interdicting the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure from making further payments in relation to the project, pending the finalisation of the main action against the respondents," says Makgotho.
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Minister Patricia de Lille, Director General Sam Vukela and Acting Chief Financial Officer, Juanita Prinsloo, have also been cited as respondents in the papers before the Special Tribunal.
Makgotho says the R21, 8 million payment was allegedly paid before the construction work commenced.
"In the alternative, the applicants contend that Caledon River Properties (Pty) Ltd and Profteam CC be expected to provide them with the bank guarantee letters in order to ensure the availability of funds pending further investigations and subsequent civil proceedings," adds Makgotho.
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SIU seeks to recover R37m spent on Beitbridge fence
The unit's head Andy Mothibi briefed Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on Tuesday alongside the Department of Public Works. "We are pursuing civil litigation to recover the monies that have been paid to the service provider and any related damages caused to the department," he told MPs.
The Department allegedly used the emergency procurement processes to unlawfully appoint the two contractors to erect and repair the borderline fence at the Beitbridge Border Post.
"The total contract price amounted to R40, 4 million, of which R21, 8 million had already been paid.
It is contended that the said emergency procurements was not done in accordance with the law and other legislative prescripts governing procurement in state departments and that the processes were marred by allegations of irregularities," explains Makgotho.
The hearing will be held at the Special Tribunal sitting at the Booysens Magistrates’ Court in Johannesburg on Thursday.
