BIUST's P152 million road gets audited
Innocent Selatlhwa | Friday May 24, 2019 14:17
BIUST acting Vice Chancellor, Dennis Siginer told the committee that Rockefeller (Pty) Ltd was in 2016 awarded a P99 million tender, which included construction of 6.5 kilometre access road to the institution, storm water drainage, road signs, road markings and associated road furniture, construction of a gate house, sport changing facilities, ablution blocks and construction of water pipelines from campus to the new gate house.
Specially elected legislator, Mephato Reatile questioned Siginer as to why the project was not yet complete as well as whether he thought the expenditure was justifiable.
“I personally feel the amount spent is too much. I, however, stand with the decisions that were taken by the university structures, as I am a part of them. The figures rose because of some challenges that the contractor came across when doing their work,” Siginer responded.
Reatile then told him that the committee would engage the Office of the Auditor General to establish as to how the project for such a short road could have cost that much. In response, Siginer said the institution had already engaged KPMG to conduct a forensic audit into the project. Siginer told the committee that the road would be completed in two weeks while other components of the project are lagging behind. He said the citizen contractor was appointed after beating four other companies who bid for the project.
The committee members also raised concerns that BIUST house seemed not to be in order. They stated that an internal audit showed that there was maladministration of resources at the institution. It was revealed before the committee that signatories at their bank accounts were not tallying.
The committee also had issues with revelation that over 400 computers have not been accounted for. Siginer said there was a mix-up when the institution relocated from Oodi to Palapye. He said they are yet to normalise their books after the relocation.
On questions over lengthy acting periods by some staff members, Siginer said it was because they were struggling to find the relevant qualified personnel for the positions.
On other issues, Siginer said they were progressing well in terms of developing the institution. He said they are still in need of more infrastructure to be able to be a world-class university as they wish to be.