GOOD statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD: Secretary-General and Member of Western Cape Provincial Parliament
25 January 2022
POLITICAL AND MANAGEMENT HEADS SHOULD ROLL
On 19 August 2020 I requested the SIU to investigate the costs incurred by the City of Cape Town in setting up and operating their widely condemned “homeless persons camp” in Strandfontein.
In the SIU’s report released by the President today the SIU finds that:
“the investigation revealed that the failure by the CoCT to follow a proper procurement process resulted in the incurrence of irregular expenditure in the amount of R42 293 285. Moreover, the service provider profited excessively to the detriment of the CoCT.”
Now there should be consequences. The DA must demonstrate the accountability and good governance it claims. Heads should roll.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis needs to fire the Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, who set up the camp using his Disaster Risk Management department and who championed the camp as the solution for homeless people .
The City Manager and Chief Financial Officer need to be reported to Council and they need to be investigated for their role in approving an obviously excessive amount for tent hire and failing to use a tender process.
This complaint to the SIU arose out of the responses to my July 2020 questions to the MEC for Local Government, Anton Bredell.
In response to my parliamentary questions the City disclosed that it had incurred a whopping R53 million in setting up and operating the camp. The camp was operated for just six weeks and was widely condemned as unsuitable for human habitation.
Included in these costs was R43 820 785 for the hire of marquee tents.
The MEC’s replies also indicated that there “was no tender process” used for the costs incurred.
The SIU basically concluded what any reasonable person would have realised – that R43 million for six weeks of tent hire was excessive and the service provider “profited excessively”.
The fact that the City proceeded with the hire is suspicious and requires further investigation – in particular whether the DA or any person received any benefit from the “excessive” profits.
Quite obviously R53 million could have provided permanent facilities to assist homeless people with a pathway away from living on the streets.
Media enquiries:
Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Western Cape Provincial Parliament
Cell: 0825183264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za
Samkelo Mgobozi, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0792315977 (whatsapp)/0829684021 (calls)
Email: samm@forgood.org.za