Question NW1764 to the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
10 June 2021 - NW1764
Ngcobo, Mr S to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Whether she has been informed that the R431 million paid to service providers in Gauteng for decontaminating schools was awarded without following due procedure; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) who was responsible for issuing the specified contracts and (b) what steps will be taken in this regard?
Reply:
(a) and (b) As the Minister of Basic Education, I do not know who was responsible for issuing the specified contracts, and what steps will be taken by the Gauteng Administration in that regard. Matters of procurement in all the 9 Provincial Education Departments (PEDs), are processed and finalised by the respective PEDs; and the national Department of Education (DBE) has no jurisdiction over any of the PEDs on such matters. PEDs, similar to the DBE, have an obligation in terms of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), Treasury Regulations, Treasury Instruction Notes, Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) and PPPFA Regulations, to follow due process when procuring goods and services.