Publication: Business Day Issued: Date: 2006-11-01 Reporter: Chantelle Benjamin Reporter:

Gautrain Tender Hopefuls Face Strict Criteria

 

Publication 

Business Day
Date 2006-11-01

Reporter

 Chantelle Benjamin

Web Link

www.businessday.co.za

 

Gautrain project officials have defended the strict process of vetting companies that wish to tender, which has led to the exclusion of those linked to convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik.

They said all companies allocated work on the Gautrain project were equally subject to the procedure.

Responding to reports, the project office said yesterday that Bombela Consortium had not allocated any work on the Gautrain project to Nkobi Holdings, Kobitech Transport Systems and African Defence Systems, despite their having registered on the potential supplier list.

“There is a strict vetting process,” Gautrain spokeswoman Barbara Jensen said yesterday.

Ten of Shaik’s companies were involved in his trial, which related to his dealings with former deputy president Jacob Zuma. Shaik was given 15 years on each of two corruption convictions and three on a conviction for fraud.

As many as 3000 companies have registered on Gautrain’s potential supplier list but by no means would all be selected for further scrutiny, Jensen said. “Any company can put their name on the supplier database; it does not mean they will be selected.”

Jensen said the project had no say over what companies listed on the site. “It means that when tenders come up, companies registered on the site get alerted by e-mail instead of waiting to read it in the newspapers.”

All companies short-listed for tenders are vetted by a procurement department set up by Bombela. This requires that they furnish financial records, prove they have the capacity to deliver, and can satisfy equity requirements.

“Bombela has to ensure that companies meet requirements, particularly the socioeconomic development conditions, or the consortium will have to pay government a penalty fee of R60m a quarter.”

An independent monitor has been appointed to see whether companies meet requirements on black economic empowerment and the use of small, medium-sized and micro enterprises.

With acknowledgements to Chantelle Benjamin and Business Day.