Corruption and graft issues are being raised by those opposed to the uMgungundlovu District Municipality’s moves to dig-up borehole watering facilities costing R400 000 each.
Some opposition parties believed that the water source could be created at a fraction of the cost tabled at the municipality’s council meeting recently.
The municipality plans to dig 25 boreholes to alleviate their water challenges and provide 590 ventilated improved pit (VIP) toilets for residents living in rural areas.
Funding for both projects, at R10-million apiece, is to be derived from a R20m grant pledged by the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta).
Brian Zuma, the municipality's spokesperson confirmed that the VIP toilets contract was awarded to the highest points scoring bidder in 2021.
Zuma would not explain their borehole costing processes for the Sunday Tribune because the work was not yet out on tender.
Hazel Lake, a DA councillor and member of the municipality’s executive committee, said they were not satisfied with the costs for the boreholes.
Lake has since written to municipal manager Nosipho Mkhize, and asked her to investigate the procurement processes.
She said they appreciated the Cogta funding and efforts to improve water supply within the municipality’s borders, but believed they could get more value for money if the authorities spent money more judiciously.
“This smacks of corruption and graft. Who is benefiting from this fat built into the contracts?
“The Municipal Financial Management act is clear that public funds spent should achieve value for money as a standard. In practice, this is not happening, at the expense of service delivery,” claimed Lake.
“I’ve checked with borehole people and was told there was no difference, a borehole is a borehole.
The costs depend on the type of supporting infrastructure you install including the type of pumps and jojo tanks that get fitted.
“We await the municipal manager’s response. We will relax if there's a good reason for it, if not we won't,” said Lake.
Lionel Pienaar, who is the IFP’s exco representative in Umgungundlovu, also felt the boreholes were not priced right and will challenge the issue once they receive expert opinion.
“We feel R400 000 was exorbitant, even though some boreholes will be equipped with solar energy sources.”
Pienaar said they were cognisant of the various cost factors and they were not opposed to the project, but the IFP wanted more holes for the money paid.
“The principle of drilling is excellent and cheaper than water tankers. It is a far more dignified way for residents to receive water.
“Some scientific research needs to be done to check that correct procedures have been followed before we take our next steps,” said Pienaar.
Richard Duckworth, a long-time contractor, said the municipality’s boreholes could be dug for at least R100 000 cheaper.
Duckworth said there has been corruption in the industry for a long while.
“How does a person who does refrigeration without drilling equipment get borehole contracts? They get the tender and it is then subcontracted to us.”
Duckworth said he gave up on doing municipal work about five years ago.
“You need to have a Construction Industry Development Board certificate to get work but many of the guys have false CIDB’s,” he said.
Chris Smith, whose company SingaManzi has been specialising in borehole digging for 20 years, said he was aware of the outcry over the municipality’s costing.
Smith said that there were many variables to be considered and there was confusion over what a contractor charges a domestic user as opposed to the ones required by the municipality.
“The government has a specific standard design which contractors must abide by for future maintenance of the holes.”
Some of the cost factors needed to be considered were the depth of drilling, water testing, type of pumps and water storage tanks installed and piping.
Smith said a pump alone could cost R100 000 and a geohydrologist, who would charge professional fees, would be required to guide the drilling process.
“I will only be able to say whether the costs are justified or not after I see the bill of quantities in the tender document.”
Smith said his company does not make tender bids and usually got work via consultants and contractors.
Zuma said they were unable to talk about figures at this stage.
“A process of competitive bidding will be undertaken and the highest scoring bidder will be awarded the tender.”
Zuma said price was only one of the determining factors for tender awards and their administration was committed to minimising their sanitation and water provision backlog.
“It is our top priority,” said Zuma.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE