Malema woes worsen - 4 firms not on CIDB database

NONE of the four companies owned or directed by ANC Youth League president Julius Malema is registered with the Construction Industry Development Board. This means that Limpopo municipalities that gave him tenders did so illegally. They did not check with the CIDB before awarding the tenders. The CIDB is the construction industry regulatory body whose board reports to the minister of public works. SGL Engineering Projects, 101 JunJus Trading, Blue Nightingale Trading 61 and Ever Roaring Investments, of which Malema is a co-director, were not on CIDB’s database.

The CIDB was established through the Construction Industry Development Board Act No 38 of 2000.

“Public institutions are responsible for making sure that the companies they award tenders to are graded and regulated by the CIDB,” said spokesperson Katli Molise. According to the Act, no contractor may undertake, carry out or complete any construction works for public sector contracts, awarded in terms of competitive tender or quotation, unless he or she is registered with the CIDB and holds a valid registration certificate issued by the CIDB.

The CIDB requires employers of private and public sector projects to apply to the CIDB for the registration of a construction project within two working days from the date that the contractor’s offer to perform the construction work is accepted by the employer. Every organ of state must, subject to the policy on procurement, apply to the registrar of contractors. CIDB spokesperson Kotli Molise said it was up to a public institution to make sure that its contractors were graded by the CIDB. “Anyone can undertake to provide a construction service to a public institution, but they must comply with industry regulations,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Limpopo government will not take action against any municipalities that had allegedly given tenders to Malema before receiving a formal complaint. A weekend newspaper reported that Malema had benefited in tenders from several municipalities in the province. This was followed by allegations that Malema had got the tenders illegally by intimidating mayors and municipal managers that if they did not tow the line they would be fired. But Phuti Mosomane, spokesperson for Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale, said for as long as there had been no formal complaint lodged by anyone, then there would be no need for the government to act. “We have not received any formal complaint about the allegations of issuing of tenders illegally and there is no basis for us to act,” said Mosomane. He further challenged those with evidence to come forward. Asked if they did not care about government resources being looted in public view, Mosomane could only say “that does not arise because we are not aware of any irregularities being performed in any of our institutions”.

Sello Moloto, leader of the Cope in the Limpopo legislature, said they would lodge a complaint with MEC for local government and housing Soviet Lekganyane. His department is responsible for municipalities.

Source: The Sowetan

Malema got tenders illegally– Moloto

FORMER Limpopo premier Sello Moloto says ANCYL president Julius Malema got government tenders in the province illegally. In an escalating war of words between the two sworn enemies and former comrades, Moloto alleged that Malema got the tenders by intimidating mayors and municipal managers. Moloto, now a Cope Limpopo MPL, said he could not have given any tenders to Malema under dubious circumstances. “It is obvious that Malema had been getting the tenders illegally. “He (Malema) got those tenders by intimidating mayors and municipal managers that they would lose their jobs if they did not approve the appointments of his companies,” he said. “Actually, since 2007 Malema used President Jacob Zuma’s campaign to intimidate everybody to give him tenders and that thing is continuing even now. “He said it publicly that he was working on a phone call by instructing people to give him tenders. People were told if they did not support Zuma they would not get tenders or government jobs,” Moloto said. He also said he was not upset by Malema’s comments. “I am not shaken, I got a breather last year when I went to Cope.” He said Malema hated him with a passion “based on the insults he has been hurling at me each time he is given air time on radio stations”.

Last night Malema reacted angrily to Moloto’s claims. “His allegations are unfounded. He was chairperson and premier and he had every right to take action against me if I intimidated anyone. Moloto is useless and a loser and he will go to his grave a loser.”

Moloto confirmed that he had put questions to the legislature based on villagers’ complaints that some projects were not being completed. He said it was a coincidence that the companies’ performance they were asked to look into had links to Malema. “We are not after Malema. It could have been any other person. It was not about Julius.”