The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has sought to defend the process followed to award tenders for the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), stating that the process was above board.

In a statement, the department addressed allegations raised on social media platforms and some mainstream media organisations alleging that irregularities were involved in the manner in which the NSNP tender was processed.

The MEC for the department, Sipho Hlomuka, has come under fire amid allegations that some of those awarded tenders had close links to him or to the ANC.

There have been growing calls for the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Thami Ntuli, to intervene in the matter. He recently stated that he had asked for a report on the issue from the MEC.

The department confirmed that it had received written questions from the Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube and Ntuli and said it would respond accordingly.

“From the outset, it is important that we place on record the fact that the process has been conducted in line with all the procurement processes and relevant prescripts.”

The department stated that the process undertaken had various stages, which included the advertising of the tender, after which every eligible South African was at liberty to apply. It said after the advertisement of the bid, all bidders were invited to compulsory briefing sessions in all 12 districts, where they were taken through the requirements of the bid.

“All the bids received, amounting to approximately 20,000, were subjected to the same comprehensive evaluation criteria in line with all the Supply Chain Management (SCM) processes. All the bids were subjected to a standard evaluation process as set out in the bid document. It is also important to state categorically that evaluation and adjudication were followed in line with the prescribed procedures,” the statement continued.

It added that the department is currently at a stage where it is dealing with appeals or objections. An unfortunate situation regarding this tender is that it attracts thousands of bidders who all have to compete for only 1,756 clusters across the 12 districts.

“We note with disappointment that once some bidders are not recommended for the award, they resort to delegitimising the entire process. The department, however, takes solace from the understanding that at the current stage, which is the appeals process, bidders will be afforded the opportunity to raise issues.

While it is within their rights, in terms of the law, to raise their grievances after being unsuccessful, it is unfortunate that some resort to the circulation of misinformation.

“The department wants to place on record that it will respond to all the bidders who would have submitted their objections or appeals to the Bid Appeals Tribunal convened under the auspices of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury,” the statement concluded.

THE MERCURY

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