STATEMENT BY BRETT HERRON, MEMBER OF WESTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL PARLIAMENT AND GOOD SECRETARY-GENERAL
2 March 2021
Western Cape PPE procurement report:
APPEARS TRANSPARENT BUT REVEALS NOTHING
The Western Cape Treasury’s quarterly report on PPE procurement released today is like a gift-wrapped box with nothing inside it.
In a classic case of sophistry, Western Cape Finance MEC David Maynier spoke eloquently of transparency and detail while delivering an opaque report deliberately devoid of any depth.
Maynier’s report stands proudly alongside the National Treasury dashboard, which similarly promises transparency but is as clear as mud.
In the early days of the pandemic, last year, the Western Cape Provincial Government announced that details of its PPE and Covid-19 related procurement would be published monthly for public scrutiny.
But, in typical Western Cape fashion, the bark (PR) outperformed the bite (delivery). And because the media’s hands are so full reporting on ANC frailties and corruption, the Western Cape is seldom held to public account.
Initially, the Provincial Treasury published fairly detailed reports, allowing for scrutiny of what was ordered from which supplier, and how much it cost. But the scrutiny must have been uncomfortable because the province quickly reverted to publishing summaries and hiding the most salient procurement details.
On 5 February 2021 I asked the Minister of Economic Opportunities and Finance why he had stopped publishing the procurement details (see attached) and he replied that this was because National Treasury was publishing this detail.
However, it’s not possible to extract detailed information from the Treasury dashboard.
Maynier must republish his report, including the promised detail, line by line, on who procured what, from whom and at what cost. If there’s nothing to hide he has nothing to lose.