After uncovering troubling procurement irregularities in Ekurhuleni and Tshwane, the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has now formally moved on to the City of Johannesburg, demanding full disclosure of security tenders linked to the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and private firms.
Chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, the commission has issued a directive for the city to hand over a complete paper trail of the contracts, including bid submissions, evaluation reports, adjudication outcomes, and all related correspondence.
This follows testimony pointing to irregularities in Metro Police tenders, with evidence in earlier hearings suggesting procurement processes may have been manipulated to favour certain bidders.
In Tshwane, the commission heard that recommendations on a key contract were made before bid evaluations were completed. Other evidence raised concerns about potential interference and the leaking of sensitive tender information.
At the centre of the probe are high-value security contracts tied to policing functions and the safeguarding of public infrastructure. The commission is examining whether established procurement rules were followed or bypassed.
The inquiry, established to investigate criminality, political interference, and misconduct within the criminal justice system, is increasingly focusing on how municipalities handle large-scale contracts linked to law enforcement.
The City of Johannesburg has been asked to hand over all relevant documents without delay.
Among the documents in question are full tender specifications, lists of bidders, scoring sheets, minutes from bid committee meetings, and any legal opinions regarding the contracts.
Additionally, detailed records of payments made to various security companies are being requested.
The development has been welcomed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg.
DA councillor Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said the request confirms long-standing concerns about procurement practices in the city.
“This decisive step validates long-standing DA calls for a full-scale investigation into procurement across the city.,” said DA councillor Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku
”For years, the DA has demanded transparency and accountability in all tenders involving City entities, including Johannesburg Water, City Power Johannesburg, Johannesburg Roads Agency, Johannesburg Social Housing Company, the Metropolitan Trading Company, and the Johannesburg Property Company. Security contracts must be thoroughly investigated,” added ayser-Echeozonjoku.
City officials have not yet made a public comment on the request, but the commission has urged full and honest cooperation.
The Star
Click Here For The Original Source
