Health department’s security deal Cope blames premier

COPE has blamed the inaction of the Northern Cape premier for the “rampant corruption” at the Department of Health after a controversial R224 million security deal was signed by the department.

Cope MPL, Pakes Dikgetsi, on Tuesday requested the portfolio committee on health and social development to commission a report into the contract that was awarded to Defensor Security Company as of November 1.

He claimed that a whistle-blower had informed him yesterday that the department was in the process of facilitating a R10 million advance payment to the company.

“This is without them having done any work. There is definitely something fishy about the process that was followed in the awarding of this tender.”

He urged the premier, the Presidency, the ministers of Health and Finance as well as the auditor-general to launch an urgent investigation into the contract.

“The portfolio committee agreed to give the Department of Health 30 days to table the report regarding the awarding of the contract as well as whether supply chain management processes were followed.”

Dikgetsi stated that Defensor did not qualify for the tender.

“At the time of their application for the bid they misrepresented their profile as two of their directors were allegedly delinquent in terms of the Companies Act because they were found guilty of fraud in a court of law in Bloemfontein.

“They did not comply with at least five requirements of the tender documents. The department failed to perform a thorough due diligence on the company,” Dikgetsi claimed.

He stated that the department misrepresented the 2016 high court judgment that ordered that the bid should have gone on public tender and should have been properly evaluated.

Dikgetsi condemned the “cash-strapped” Department of Health for “blatant corruption and enriching politically-connected individuals”.

“I am reliably informed that the HOD for Health was strong-armed by some politicians and the premier, as being complicit in this corruption by her deafening silence and inaction. It is clear that she was all along laying the groundwork to place her trusted lieutenant in the position of HOD.

“The depressing mess must be put squarely at the doorstep of the premier and her cabinet for dismally failing to rescue the department from administrative and financial ruin.”

He indicated that he would also report the matter to the chief procurement officer at national Treasury, the Hawks and the public protector.

Chairperson of the Northern Cape Civics Organisation, Ross Henderson, questioned whether any legal advice was obtained before the contract was awarded.

“It would be obvious to any legally-trained person to notice that it does not comply with the laws and that the contract never went out on tender. Either the legal unit did not make an informed decision or the Department of Health has been captured.”

Removed

He questioned whether the former HOD for Health, Gugulethu Matloapane, was removed after she advised against awarding a tender to Defensor in 2014.

“Various local security companies are aggrieved that they were not afforded an opportunity to be considered for the security tender. We are aware of meetings that took place late at night to discuss this contract. Officials in supply chain management should also be investigated.”

Albert Hibbert Attorneys from Pretoria, acting on behalf of Defensor Security, indicated that all supply chain and procurement processes were followed.

“The directors have never been found guilty of fraud and they have no criminal offences. The company complied with all the specifications of the bid, in fact they have the ability to provide much more than required as per the bid specifications.”

They added that there had been no interference in the awarding of the tender.

“No politicians, HOD or the premier were involved or influenced the bid, neither were any kickbacks paid.”

Spokesperson for the Office of the Premier, Bronwyn Thomas-Abrahams, referred media enquiries to the Department of Health who, in turn, did not reply.

“The Office of the Premier was not privy or party to the administrative matters related to the Department of Health as this competency is vested with the department and its accounting officer.

“Any claims that the premier, could have influenced the outcome of any procurement or services rendered to the Department of Health is devoid of all truth and fact,” Thomas-Abrahams stated.