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NMBRA and AFRIFORUM taking Metro and Access Management to court

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Dear MyPE

The Nelson Mandela Bay Ratepayers Association (NMBRA) and AfriForum Port Elizabeth on Friday served a High Court Application for the cancellation of what they allege to be the irregular extension (by way of Deviation) of a contract between the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality and Access Management, the company that manages the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

“As an outcome of the investigation carried out it has been discovered that ratepayers monies have been channelled through Access Management to the EP Kings,” said NMBRA Chairperson and AfriForum Vice Chairperson, Kobus Gerber.

“The Metro had sufficient time (at least 18 months) in which to follow proper Supply Chain procurement processes in order to appoint a stadium operator after the expiry of the existing contract with Access Management.

“They failed to do so and by way of a deviation re-appointed Access Management for a further 12 month period on the 13th March 2015.”

He said that the Metro received four legal opinions in an attempt to side-step following proper SCM procurement processes and thereby keep Access on as stadium operator.

“It is clear that this would be for no reason other than to be able to channel irregular monies through Access to EP Rugby.

Cited in the High Court application are the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality as first respondent, Access Management as second respondent, Ex Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Municipal Manager, Mpilo Mbambisa, who received a golden handshake from the City, is cited as the third respondent – other respondents are Trevor Harper; Nadia Gerwel, Jezreel Du Plessis, and Ndiphiwe Mantyontya.

Early in November, AfriForum PE and the NMBRA announced that they had conducted an investigation into Access Management, the operator of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, and discovered that the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality was channelling ratepayers monies through Access to pay the running costs of the EP Kings and the players – and that this has been ongoing for a number of years. See some of alleged illegal payments to Access Management in attachment.

Regards

Kobus Gerber
NMB Ratepayers association

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