Question NW2267 to the Minister of Basic Education
21 September 2018 - NW2267
Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)What (a) are the names of the three companies that were allegedly paid more than R260 million in advance by her department to provide mobile classrooms, but did not deliver any (details furnished), (b) amount was paid to each company and (c) are the names of the schools where the mobile classrooms were meant to be delivered to; (2) were tenders issued for the classrooms before paying funds to the companies; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether (a) her department and/or (b) the provincial department of education took action to recover the money; if not, why not; if so, what was the nature of the action; (4) were any departmental officials investigated for the irregularity; if not, why not; if so, (a) what is the name of each official who was investigated and (b) what was the outcome of the investigations; (5) were any measures put in place to assist the schools that were supposed to receive classrooms but did not; if not, why not; if so, what measures were taken?
Reply:
(1)(2)(3)(4)(5):
Information received from the Eastern Cape Department of Education is that a preliminary investigation is currently being conducted by the Eastern Cape Office of the Premier and the Provincial Department of Public Works and the Eastern Cape Department of Education. The companies involved are Kwikspace, E-kwibuild and Parkhomes. The details of the amounts paid, schools affected, whether tenders were issued will be available as soon as the investigation is concluded and it is on the basis of the findings and recommendations that a determination will be made on the course of action.