In a shocking revelation, the Department of Agriculture in the North West today openly admitted that it is paying 21% more than market value for diesel procured from tenderpreneurs.
This fact came to light during the parliamentary Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Flood Disaster Relief and Recovery’s oversight visit to Deelpan in the North West.
A spokesperson of the Department, assistant director Sebo Kolodi, admitted in reply to a question from the FF Plus that the Department paid nearly R1,76 million for 67 000 litres of diesel (R26,26 p/l) instead of the market value at the time of purchase, which was approximately R1,43 million (R21,33 p/l).
As a result of the inflated tender price and the consequent overspending on tenderpreneurs, 15 000 litres less diesel was procured.
The diesel was earmarked for “emerging” and subsistence farmers who benefit from the Department’s disaster-relief programme which was implemented after the Deelpan region was flooded.
Follow-up questions revealed that such unacceptable tender practices seem to be the rule, rather than the exception, in North West’s Department of Agriculture.
The Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Flood Disaster Relief and Recovery will request the Auditor-General (AG) to investigate the Department’s tender practices with a view to taking further steps.
This squandering of tax money on ANC cadres and tenderpreneurs at the expense of North West residents is a disgrace.
The FF Plus will keep fighting for sound governance in a corruption-free environment. The people of North West deserve better than the ANC.
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