MyPE

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Government should follow the correct processes in spite of Covid-19 pandemic

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Dear MyPE

The DA in the Eastern Cape condemns the R160 million contract that has allegedly been awarded to the Sizwe Africa IT Group by the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE). It is alleged this happened without a competitive bidding process taking place.

The Sizwe IT Africa Group is owned by known ANC acolyte Iqbal Survé. Mr Survé has long been embroiled in having workers’ pension money pumped into his failing business ventures by the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF).

We call on the Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mavuyane, to urgently investigate, and if necessary cancel, this allegedly dubious contract.

The Eastern Cape Education Department is in great need of IT equipment for our learners and schools, but it does not mean that government processes that have been put in place to fight against corruption and “jobs for friends” can be flouted. It is during trying times such as these, that processes should be adhered to and upheld.

It is heart-breaking to see that the ANC-run government continues with old tactics such as awarding contracts worth millions to the politically connected, even during a time where we have hundreds of thousands of people out of work and without food in our province.

I have submitted a parliamentary question to the Eastern Cape MEC for Education, Fundile Gade, to obtain answers regarding the specific details of the contract that has allegedly been awarded to the Sizwe Africa IT Group. This deal stinks of crony enrichment and the DA will get to the bottom of it.

I will continue to hold the Eastern Cape Department of Education to account and will be grilling the Department on its questionable procurement in the education portfolio committee scheduled for tomorrow.

Regards

Yusuf Cassim

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Port Elizabethan

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