Bigwigs in line for R3bn tender

bigwigs in line for r3bn tender

top businessmen are in line to win the eastern cape government’s lucrative five-year fleet management contract. the contract – for 2888 vehicles – is estimated to be worth around r3 billion.

the winning company will take over from fleet africa, whose contract ended in july 31 last year, but was extended pending the awarding of this new tender.

in the queue for the tender are senior provincial anc bigwigs such as the new eastern cape mec for finance and economic development mcebisi jonas , former national intelligence agency provincial manager david luphungela , and neotel’s xolani memani – and they are up against congress of the people- aligned businessmen saki macozoma , xola makapela , somana monwabisi and mkhululi pakade.

another contender is the head of the anc youth league’s lembede investments, lonwabo sambundla, through a company called ulutsha trust. they are all involved with one of three companies bidding for the tender numbered 10-08/09-123 .

senior government sources within the provincial government’s fleet management service in the roads and transport department, confirmed that three companies had been shortlisted.

they are the f and r phakisa consortium , debis fleet management/thetha group consortium , a daimler subsidiary, and makhubu logistics .

it is understood that the winning bidder will be officially announced this coming friday.

roads and transport spokesperson ncedo kumbaca yesterday said he could not divulge details of the tender or bidders. “doing so now could put the process in jeopardy. all the details will be divulged on friday,” kumbaca said.

it is understood that each bidding company had to pay about r600000 as a security fee for their tender application in order to be considered.

insiders said the shortlisted companies had already been visited by the project officer fahiem narkedien together with the bid evaluation committee.

the details of the tender document seen by the daily dispatch show that the winning company will have to supply the eastern cape government with about 2888 cars, which will include specialised vehicles, on a five-year fleet management lease.

others tender details of the contract include:

* provision of short-term or ad-hoc rental vehicles to provincial government departments;

* lease of provincial government garages in zwelitsha, east london, mthatha and port elizabeth;

* supply fuel, oil and toll-gate payments; and

* implement a fleet reduction programme for the provincial government department to minimise operating costs.