Filcon ‘scandal' nothing more than ANC fabrication
The ANC is becoming increasingly creative with the truth in its attempts to manufacture a scandal to discredit the Democratic Alliance. Cameron Dugmore has joined Marius Fransman on the Filcon bandwagon, but unfortunately displays a no less tenuous grasp of the facts.
They have no evidence of any irregularities in the awarding of contracts by the City and we welcome any investigation into the tender allocation process, as we have nothing to hide. This is nothing more than a last-ditch effort before the election to cast doubts on the DA-led City of Cape Town, and deflect attention away from the whiff of scandal and corruption that stalks so many of the ANC's leaders in the Western Cape.
Mr Fransman recently walked out of a meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts to avoid answering to serious allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the appointment of consultants during the ANC's tenure in government. Mr Dugmore's woeful record as MEC for Education, in particular his failures with regard to the construction of new schools, ensured that he was relegated to the party's back benches when the DA took over the province. His unsubstantiated allegations are nothing more than a sad attempt to regain some form of relevance.
As regards Filcon, it is important to note that the company was subcontracted by Aurecon and Aecom, the implementing agents contracted by the City of Cape Town for the upgrade of Council rental units. The City adheres to strict due diligence processes when adjudicating and awarding tenders for contractors, which were applied in this case as well. Aecom and Aurecon awarded the contracts to Filcon at the beginning of 2013 in accordance with the City's procurement guidelines. One of the key requirements is a positive credit rating, which Filcon did have when the contract was awarded.
The Community Rental Units (CRU) Upgrade Programme was launched as a result of the City's dissatisfaction with the maintenance conditions that prevailed in our housing stock of 43 000 units. More than 5 000 Council rental units of the 7 775 initially identified in 2008 have already been upgraded as part of this programme.
In fact, in 2012 the City's CRU project received an award from the South African Institute of Civil Engineering for the most outstanding civil engineering achievement in the community-based projects category.
Corrective measures
Filcon submitted an application to the Cape High Court on 23 April 2014 to apply for a business rescue process, but the City has already instituted various measures to ensure that the affected upgrade projects are completed as a matter of urgency.
It is expected that negotiations with other contractors will be concluded this week and that work on the unfinished units will be able to resume next week. Unfinished units are located in Hanover Park (St Lucia Court) and Heideveld. Work also has to be completed on the units situated in Manenberg and Ottery.
Of the affected families in the Hanover Park Temporary Accommodation Village, we have managed to move six families back to their completed units. The 24 families who will have to extend their stay in temporary accommodation as a result of the termination of the Filcon contract are being kept informed of all developments by a public facilitator and Community Liaison Officer. The 48 affected families from Gail Court in Manenberg C are being kept similarly informed.
Alternative security companies have been engaged in the interim to ensure the safety and security of the people residing in the Temporary Accommodation Villages. The City is also taking all necessary measures to ensure that the temporary accommodation is dry and that solid waste and sanitation services are provided.
The City of Cape Town last year received its tenth consecutive unqualified audit - a record achievement that is not paralleled by any other metro in the country. This is because the City takes its responsibility to comply with all relevant laws and regulations seriously, and will take all measures necessary to ensure that public funds are used for the benefit of all residents.
If the ANC can produce hard facts to substantiate its spurious allegations, we will certainly investigate them. Until such facts are forthcoming, these allegations can be regarded as nothing more than electioneering and a transparent attempt to deflect attention away from the rot within the ANC's own structures.
Statement issued by Councillor Tandeka Gqada, Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, City of Cape Town, May 2 2014
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