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PAC mulls summoning Molale to answer for Sepopa–Gumare tender

Eric Molale Eric Molale
Eric Molale

This was disclosed by PAC chairperson, Taolo Lucas, during the recent appearance of Transport and Infrastructure PS, Kgakgamatso Ketshajwang.

Ketshajwang had a tough time trying to explain the controversial Sepopa–Gumare road project. The project is not only behind schedule but costs have ballooned to more than twice the original budget.

The PS conceded that ideally re-tendering should have been a more viable option and less costly for the contentious project.

Appearing before the PAC recently, Ketshajwang was at pains to explain decisions taken by his predecessor after the tender was awarded for that project a few years ago.

Initially, the project was awarded at a sum of P110,594,150.64 in August 2022 to Bango Trading for the shoulder reinstatement and asphalt overlay. It was varied three times and has since ballooned to P301,759,282.66.

Trying to justify the delays for this project and Sepopa–Mohembo which was awarded to Rockefeller, the PS finally conceded in his submission that he could not indicate the reasons by then not to call for re-tendering for these projects.

He disclosed that Sepopa–Gumare was 75% complete and Sepopa–Mohembo was at 61% completion.

Ketshajwang also agreed with PAC member, Goretetse Kekgonegile, that outside the PAC forum they need to call the former minister and permanent secretary to answer for Sepopa–Mohembo and Sepopa–Gumare road projects. This was because they all agreed that re-tendering could have been a viable option.

'We will explore that option to call the former minister and permanent secretary,' the PAC chairperson reiterated.

Kekgonegile had asked the accounting officer Ketshajwang to explain why Sepopa–Mohembo, Sepopa–Gumare, and Gumare–Nokeng road projects were behind schedule.

Kekgonegile also wanted to know why they have varied the scope specifications several times and why they did not call for re-tendering.

He also wanted to know why the contractor for Sepopa–Gumare decided to sub-contract the project to the Chinese which is not allowed according to the procurement laws.

Kekgonegile also wanted to know what action is taken for non-performing contractors besides terminating and why the culprits could not be blacklisted.

Giving a background on these projects, PS explained that the tenders for Sepopa–Mohembo and Sepopa–Gumare projects were flouted as open in 2020-2021 financial year.

'They were flouted as open tenders and the two companies were identified through that process. However, during evaluation of the two tenders there was a dispute which occurred,' Ketshajwang said.

This dispute, he said, took a longer time to be resolved.

'During that period the sections of both Sepopa–Gumare and Sepopa–Mohembo deteriorated very very severely which was not the case at the time when the initial tender was instigated (sic).'

He said the powers that be at that time who were managing those tenders decided to directly appoint Bango Trading and Rockefeller since they were initially appointed through a competitive process.