DA wants audit on tenders to Malema’s companies

JOHANNESBURG -The Democratic Alliance has asked the Auditor General’s regional office in Polokwane for a special audit of all tenders awarded to ANC youth league leader Julius Malema’s companies.

This followed the news earlier that Malema’s SGL Engineering Projects had been awarded two new tenders worth R2.2 million by the Polokwane municipality, DA spokesman Mark Steele said yesterday.’There appears to be clear evidence that Malema’s companies are operating illegally.’For one thing, to be involved in this type of tendering, a company must have been registered with the Construction Industry Development Board, and have tax clearance certificates.’Reports have made it clear that Malema’s companies have neither, and he has yet to deny those claims, or put forward any positive evidence to the contrary.’We have also seen in the press clear evidence that SGL Engineering does not have the capacity to carry out the work that they are tendering for,’ Steele said.These factors added weight to the claim that SGL Engineering and Malema’s other companies were awarded tenders because of their political influence, not because they submitted the best bids.’The former Limpopo premier has alleged that these contracts were awarded because mayors and municipal managers were told they would lose their jobs if they did not give the business to Malema.’The questions must be asked: How can these companies be awarded tenders when they have not met the requisite standards? How can a company be awarded tenders when its track record of delivery is so poor?’Which bids were turned down in order to give Malema’s companies the tenders? Who made the decision to award the tenders to Malema and what process was followed?’ Steele said. – Nampa-Sapa