Question NW643 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

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11 May 2020 - NW643

Profile picture: Roos, Mr AC

Roos, Mr AC to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure

With regard to the recent R37,2 million emergency procurement of a 40km fence alongside the Beitbridge Border Post in terms of Treasury Regulation 16A6.4, what (a) is a detailed description of the goods and services, (b) are the name(s) and company registration number(s) of the suppliers(s), (c) is the process that was undertaken to get quotes and (d) is the reason why palisade fencing was not considered?

Reply:

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure:

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has provided me with the following information regarding the emergency procurement of the 40km borderline:

a) The description of required goods/services includes repair and replace 40km of borderline infrastructure (match existing fence) between RSA/Zimbabwe. This comprised of a 1.8m fence.

b) The service providers contracted by the department are Caledon River Properties trading as Magwa Construction (Reg. 2017/430436/07) (“the Contractor”) and Profteam cc (Reg. 2017/058 188/23) (“the Principal Agent”).

c) The DPWI informed me as following:

  • DPWI was in the early stages in the process of appointing a service provider prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, after the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) stated that their strategic border infrastructure was in poor condition.
  • The particular project addresses the short to the medium-term solution. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a very high risk for loss of life (i.e. Death), adverse health impact, cross-border smuggling and crime, negative economic impact and social impact in South Africa.
  • Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation on 15 March 2020 on the Covid-19 pandemic and the simultaneous declaration of a National State of Disaster
  • Under Section 27(2)(L) of the Disaster Management Act, No 57 of 2002, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, issued a directive on 16 March 2020 for the emergency securing of the South African Border Posts
  • Recognising the Ministerial Directive a site visit was held by DPWI and Department of Defence (DoD) officials on the 17 March 2020 at the Beitbridge Land Port of Entry.
  • Officials discussed several options to meet the set deadline under an emergency basis (criteria).
  • The National Treasury’s Instruction Note No. 08 of 2019/2020 Emergency Procurement during Covid-19 on paragraph 3.5.1 (i) provides for the invocation of emergency procedures.
  • It was prudent to invoke the emergency procurement process that entails the appointment of the required service providers through a negotiated procedure that was approved by NBAC.

d) The palisade fencing was not considered due to the fact that the aim of the project was to repair and replace the existing borderline fence.

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