Gochas sewerage tender off

THE Hardap Regional Governor, Katrina Hanse, has cancelled a controversial tender for the provision of a sewerage system at the village of Gochas.

Hanse held an inquiry into the tender allocation last Thursday after allegations of irregularities were levelled against the Gochas Village Council and the Village Secretary, Henry Bock. Rehoboth Properties, which was awarded the tender, has already received one third of the N$55 000 consultancy fees.”Lots of technical irregularities surround the whole tender allocation.Even a blind man could feel with his stick that something is messy,” Hanse said.Hanse cancelled the entire N$590 000 sewerage project with immediate effect.Villagers at Gochas, a tiny settlement 110 kilometres south-east of Mariental, raised alarm about the sewerage tender, claiming that the local tender board had bypassed tender procedures.They also claimed that people related to councillors benefit from job opportunities when projects aimed at employment creation get off the ground.The local tender board consists of Village Secretary Bock, two Village Council staff members and one local resident, appointed by the Council.The inquiry found that the Gochas Village Council entered into an illegal tender agreement with Rehoboth Properties, as no other tenders had been invited.According to Hanse, Council Chairman Simon Jossop admitted before the inquiry that the councillors were not conversant with the tender board regulations and had acted on the advice of Bock.This week, a two-member delegation from Windhoek is expected to probe allegations of maladministration, nepotism and tender irregularities at the Village Council.The delegation will also investigate charges of misconduct against Bock.Bock hired Willem Maasdorp of Aranos to install electrical cables to houses but Maasdorp was allegedly barred from completing the job when he refused to pay a bribe.Bock is also accused of using a Council vehicle and Council fuel to transport his own livestock to the communal area where his parents farm.Before conducting the inquiry, Hanse met with the villagers and promised them that she would make her findings public.Hanse urged the residents not to hold demonstrations, but rather engage in consultations with the Village Council.”Demonstrations are a sign of weakness,” she said.Rehoboth Properties, which was awarded the tender, has already received one third of the N$55 000 consultancy fees.”Lots of technical irregularities surround the whole tender allocation.Even a blind man could feel with his stick that something is messy,” Hanse said.Hanse cancelled the entire N$590 000 sewerage project with immediate effect.Villagers at Gochas, a tiny settlement 110 kilometres south-east of Mariental, raised alarm about the sewerage tender, claiming that the local tender board had bypassed tender procedures.They also claimed that people related to councillors benefit from job opportunities when projects aimed at employment creation get off the ground.The local tender board consists of Village Secretary Bock, two Village Council staff members and one local resident, appointed by the Council.The inquiry found that the Gochas Village Council entered into an illegal tender agreement with Rehoboth Properties, as no other tenders had been invited.According to Hanse, Council Chairman Simon Jossop admitted before the inquiry that the councillors were not conversant with the tender board regulations and had acted on the advice of Bock.This week, a two-member delegation from Windhoek is expected to probe allegations of maladministration, nepotism and tender irregularities at the Village Council.The delegation will also investigate charges of misconduct against Bock.Bock hired Willem Maasdorp of Aranos to install electrical cables to houses but Maasdorp was allegedly barred from completing the job when he refused to pay a bribe.Bock is also accused of using a Council vehicle and Council fuel to transport his own livestock to the communal area where his parents farm.Before conducting the inquiry, Hanse met with the villagers and promised them that she would make her findings public.Hanse urged the residents not to hold demonstrations, but rather engage in consultations with the Village Council.”Demonstrations are a sign of weakness,” she said.