National Commissioner of Correctional Services Zach Modise says his department has taken note of media reports pertaining to an alleged “R378m prisons tender scandal” but that it cannot respond to the allegations without breaking confidentiality undertakings in terms of National Treasury regulations.
He said the department was concerned that‚ while it was following due process‚ this issue had now been brought into the media domain.
Modise added that‚ as much as the department had opted not to participate in a “trial by media‚” it was necessary to state that‚ as far back as September 2015‚ we have been engaging with National Treasury on issues of procurement.
“It was DCS who requested the Auditor-General of South Africa (AG)‚ as an independent entity‚ to look into this matter as part of the annual audit process. DCS will continue to engage with National Treasury on a number of matters.
“At this stage‚ this issue has gone public without the necessary responses from DCS. It is on record that it was agreed that the initial timeframe provided by National Treasury for DCS to respond to the findings of their technical review was insufficient‚” Modise said in a statement.
He added: “Much of the information being referred to in the media is subject to confidentiality‚ rendering it impossible for DCS to fully respond to such allegations without breaking its confidentiality undertakings as per National Treasury regulations. Public discussion on this matter is restricted. DCS will provide a comprehensive response to National Treasury in due course.
“DCS will continue to ensure the objective of sound financial management‚ in order to maximise service delivery through the effective and efficient use of resources.”
The Democratic Alliance’s spokesman on correctional services‚ James Selfe‚ said on Thursday that Modise must do the right thing and present to Parliament all documents related to a prison tender‚ worth R378 million‚ which was allegedly awarded to an ANC benefactor‚ Integritron.
Failing which the DA will file an application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to get to the bottom of this matter‚ the party said on Thursday.
“This tender appears to be very dubious specifically considering that this contract should’ve been valued at R50 million‚” said DA spokesman on correctional services James Selfe‚ who added that he would write to Modise to request that he present the tender documents to Parliament.
“Integritron is part of the Sasstec group of companies that has benefited richly from government tenders awarded to its affiliates. SA Fence and Gate in particular has been awarded government tenders worth billions of rands by Eskom‚ the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).
“Just last year President Jacob Zuma delivered a veiled threat by stating “that if you invest in the ANC‚ you are wise. If you don’t invest in the ANC‚ your business is in danger.” This has unfortunately become the standard operating practice in the tender procurement process that has pervaded government’s procurement processes and needs to be effectively dealt with. This is in order to make tender processes more competitive‚ transparent and cost-effective for the ordinary taxpayer‚” said Selfe.
He added that these revelations came at a time when reports were surfacing of human rights abuses at correctional facilities across the country.
“Just earlier this week it was revealed that the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) did not have the capacity to investigate the deaths that occurred in Kgosi Mampuru II Prison which is a flagrant abdication of their statutory obligations. This money would have gone a long way to ameliorating the resource shortages faced by so many prisons across the country.
“If Mr Modise fails to present all tender documentation to Parliament‚ the DA will make an application the DA will pursue an application in terms of PAIA to assess all documents related to this deal and whether or not this tender processes was competitive‚ fair and free from undue influence‚” Selfe said.
Modise says can’t comment on alleged prisons tender scandal as bound by confidentiality
National Commissioner of Correctional Services Zach Modise says his department has taken note of media reports pertaining to an alleged “R378m prisons tender scandal” but that it cannot respond to the allegations without breaking confidentiality undertakings in terms of National Treasury regulations.
He said the department was concerned that‚ while it was following due process‚ this issue had now been brought into the media domain.
Modise added that‚ as much as the department had opted not to participate in a “trial by media‚” it was necessary to state that‚ as far back as September 2015‚ we have been engaging with National Treasury on issues of procurement.
“It was DCS who requested the Auditor-General of South Africa (AG)‚ as an independent entity‚ to look into this matter as part of the annual audit process. DCS will continue to engage with National Treasury on a number of matters.
“At this stage‚ this issue has gone public without the necessary responses from DCS. It is on record that it was agreed that the initial timeframe provided by National Treasury for DCS to respond to the findings of their technical review was insufficient‚” Modise said in a statement.
He added: “Much of the information being referred to in the media is subject to confidentiality‚ rendering it impossible for DCS to fully respond to such allegations without breaking its confidentiality undertakings as per National Treasury regulations. Public discussion on this matter is restricted. DCS will provide a comprehensive response to National Treasury in due course.
“DCS will continue to ensure the objective of sound financial management‚ in order to maximise service delivery through the effective and efficient use of resources.”
The Democratic Alliance’s spokesman on correctional services‚ James Selfe‚ said on Thursday that Modise must do the right thing and present to Parliament all documents related to a prison tender‚ worth R378 million‚ which was allegedly awarded to an ANC benefactor‚ Integritron.
Failing which the DA will file an application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to get to the bottom of this matter‚ the party said on Thursday.
“This tender appears to be very dubious specifically considering that this contract should’ve been valued at R50 million‚” said DA spokesman on correctional services James Selfe‚ who added that he would write to Modise to request that he present the tender documents to Parliament.
“Integritron is part of the Sasstec group of companies that has benefited richly from government tenders awarded to its affiliates. SA Fence and Gate in particular has been awarded government tenders worth billions of rands by Eskom‚ the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).
“Just last year President Jacob Zuma delivered a veiled threat by stating “that if you invest in the ANC‚ you are wise. If you don’t invest in the ANC‚ your business is in danger.” This has unfortunately become the standard operating practice in the tender procurement process that has pervaded government’s procurement processes and needs to be effectively dealt with. This is in order to make tender processes more competitive‚ transparent and cost-effective for the ordinary taxpayer‚” said Selfe.
He added that these revelations came at a time when reports were surfacing of human rights abuses at correctional facilities across the country.
“Just earlier this week it was revealed that the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) did not have the capacity to investigate the deaths that occurred in Kgosi Mampuru II Prison which is a flagrant abdication of their statutory obligations. This money would have gone a long way to ameliorating the resource shortages faced by so many prisons across the country.
“If Mr Modise fails to present all tender documentation to Parliament‚ the DA will make an application the DA will pursue an application in terms of PAIA to assess all documents related to this deal and whether or not this tender processes was competitive‚ fair and free from undue influence‚” Selfe said.
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