{"id":4894,"date":"2017-11-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-11-15T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amabhungane.org\/amabhungane\/stories\/new-twist-in-durbans-unending-contract-security-tender-saga\/"},"modified":"2024-09-22T14:43:01","modified_gmt":"2024-09-22T14:43:01","slug":"new-twist-in-durbans-unending-contract-security-tender-saga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/further.co.za\/amabwp\/new-twist-in-durbans-unending-contract-security-tender-saga\/","title":{"rendered":"New twist in Durban’s ‘unending contract’ security tender saga"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eight companies that have supplied lucrative security services to the Durban council over the past 13 years under a series of controversial contract extensions have booked yet another ride on the gravy train.<\/p>\n

Last week the high court in Durban set aside the latest tender award, to 37 new contractors in August this year \u2013 with the agreement of the eThekwini municipality.<\/p>\n

This followed an application by two of the eight current beneficiaries, iMvula Quality Protection and Secureco Metsu, for a new order instructing the council to cancel the new tender and find fresh service providers by February 16 2018.<\/p>\n

The court also instructed the city to retain the eight existing companies until it does so.<\/p>\n

This opens up the possibility of further lengthy extensions. One of the 37 who have now lost out, Raite Security and Consulting, complained that the latest order \u201cgrants no protection to service providers such as Raite that flagrant breaches of the eThekwini municipality procurement policy will not continue\u201d.<\/p>\n

There are suspicions in the security industry that the municipality\u2019s delays and failures to re-award the tender over more than a decade is the result of political pressures.<\/p>\n

One of the eight current service providers. Royal Security, was previously owned by President Jacob Zuma\u2019s friend and provider Roy Moodley. His son is now listed as a director.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month the DA questioned Zuma on investigative journalist Jacques Pauw\u2019s allegation that Moodley paid the president an untaxed \u201csalary\u201d of R1-million a month through Royal between 2009 and 2010.<\/p>\n

Raite and another of the 37 new companies, Tactical Security, registered their opposition to the order, but Tactical withdrew its opposition after being threatened with court action by iMvula\u2019s lawyers. Raite is consulting its advocates on its options.<\/p>\n

The current extension has its origins in an urgent application by iMvula to scrap the latest tender award in September this year.<\/p>\n

The application cited fears of official interference in the tender process after an email by an anonymous whistleblower accused the city\u2019s deputy head of supply chain management, Zandile Sithole, of influencing the tender to favour companies in which she allegedly had an interest.<\/p>\n

Sithole, who has been suspended, did not respond to amaBhungane\u2019s questions. In an affidavit, city manager Sipho Nzuza said there is no evidence that she had interests in, or manipulated the tender outcome.<\/p>\n

iMvula\u2019s initial application backfired, however, as Durban high court judge Gregory Kruger ordered the municipality to sever its contractual relationship with it and the other seven the current service providers \u2013 Khuselani, Secureco Metsu, Enforce, Isidingo, Royal Security, Sharks Protection Services and Vusa-Sizwe Security \u2013 by November 30.<\/p>\n

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