Transnet SOC Limited has
refuted claims made last
week by the Democratic
Alliance (DA) that a major
property development plan
could be vulnerable to
corruption.
Last week DA Shadow
Minister of Public
Enterprises, Natasha
Mazzonne, pointed
to a recent request for
proposal (RFP) that was
issued by Transnet for
“the development and
implementation of a
holistic and sustainable
non-core property solution
for Transnet that achieves
improved profitability”,
highlighting that as of March
31, 2016, Transnet’s property
portfolio was valued at R40
billion – “a significant figure
that would be very enticing
for those with intentions of
looting”.
“The DA is concerned that
a recent Transnet tender –
comparable in size to the
arms deal – would be very
vulnerable to corruption
given the depth of corruption
that has already been
exposed at Transnet,” said
Mazzone, adding that there
were rumours swirling that
Gupta-linked entities might
be interested in this tender.
“It is imperative, given the
sheer nature of this deal and
in light of the far-reaching
stories of State Capture
by the Gupta family, that
Parliament has oversight over
this tender to ensure that
there is no corruption in this
deal,” she commented.
Mazzone said she had
written to the acting
chairperson of the Portfolio
Committee on Public
Enterprises, Zukiswa
Rantho, to request an urgent
briefing on the tender.
“I will also be submitting
parliamentary questions
related to this matter to
uncover whether there were
any irregularities in the
tender process,” Mazzone
said.
These questions include:
• Whether the Guptas or any
of their associates were
involved in, or were given
preferential treatment/
access to any material,
at any stage of the tender
process.
• What
the total
value of
Transnet’s
property
portfolio is
at present
and the
values of the
core and noncore
property
holdings.
• How many
companies responded to
the RFP and their names.
• Where and when the
RFP was published or
advertised, and for how
long.
Transnet spokesperson,
Molatwane Likhethe did
not respond to the questions
raised by the DA, but
confirmed to FTW that
the Transnet board had
“tasked management with
optimising returns from the
company’s property portfolio.
“Accordingly, the Minister
of Public Enterprises has
granted Transnet permission
to approach the market,” he
said.
According to Likhethe,
the respondents are required
to provide a comprehensive
business plan, including an
in-depth financial model,
which must clearly show
how Transnet can achieve a
superior revenue-generating
property portfolio.
He reiterated that
Transnet, as a state-owned
company, was subject to
government rules and
regulations. “In terms of the
State-Owned Enterprises’
non-core property
disposal policy and
BBBEE guidelines
of 2008, a
state-owned
enterprise or a
wholly owned
subsidiary of a
state-owned
company
may not
dispose
of any
property
unless it has first
offered that property for sale
to the state and other stateowned
companies,” Likhethe
pointed out.
The 33-page RFP
document (of which FTW
has a copy), concludes with
this statement: “Transnet
has appointed a procurement
ombudsman to investigate
any material complaint in
respect of RFPs exceeding
R5 million in value. Should a
respondent have any material
concern regarding an RFP
process, a complaint may be
lodged with the ombudsman
for further investigation."
