Since he took over the biggest office in the land last year in October, Boko has not shied away from emphasising his intention to adopt direct appointments and ‘do away with outdated tendering regulations that delay progress’. During a Kgotla meeting in Tlokweng this week, President Boko said he knows firsthand the corrupt world of tenders where cronies work together to cheat the system. Addressing residents, Boko said tenders are a waste of time and that he has previously legally represented parties in tender disputes, got to know the corrupt nature of the tendering sector firsthand. He cited a case that he said showed great workmanship in the corrupt world of tenders. Furthermore, Boko said tendering processes are shady because some companies have access to inside information needed to win tenders. “Tenders are weaved, and trust me, I have seen it myself. If a tender is advertised, people are already in place and have won it beforehand,” he said. Boko, who has received criticism over his direct appointment approach, said he does not agree with the conception that normal tendering is good, fair, and done in the full glare of the public. “There is nothing public about tenders, it is thievery disguised as lawful. I am not a fool; I have dealt with these tender issues in court. If someone wants to play with tenders in front of me, I close my eyes and become even angrier,” he said.
He stated that no one can come to him with the tenders’ topic because he is not easily fooled. Boko emphasised that there is so much corruption in the so-called normal tendering processes. “When a tender comes out, it has already been awarded, and others are just runners-up. You will buy tender documents at a high price when the tender awardees already know they have won,” he said. Boko maintained that there is no way for someone new to penetrate the tenders world without favours. He maintained that after realising that tenders are corrupt, as a government, they saw the need to expedite things and do them properly. “Tenders waste our time and it's thievery,” he emphasised. Boko said people should assess people who are making noise that tenders are being stopped. “Look at them carefully and you will find out that there is part of these cohorts of corrupt tendering,” he said. Last month, after hearing Boko’s pronouncement that the government will make direct appointments going forward, Tshipidi Badiri Builders Association (TBBA) requested a meeting with the government.
