Pretoria - Tshwane mayor Randall Williams has been caught at the centre of controversy involving a multibillion-rand contract after he allegedly intimidated officials to support his “executive decision” to approve an unsolicited bid proposal and forgo a competitive bidding process.
The R26 billion contract in question was for the refurbishment of two city-owned Rooiwal and Pretoria West power stations. A report on the matter was tabled by Williams during a special council sitting yesterday.
However, the report was tainted by controversy after Williams was accused of interfering in the City’s procurement processes.
That was after a recording surfaced in which Williams ordered officials to implement his executive decision on the contract.
The recording captured a senior management meeting at which Williams could be heard instructing officials to support his executive decision for an unsolicited bid.
During the meeting, Williams emphasised that the municipality’s executive authority make “executive decisions” and that the administration was duty-bound to implement them whether they “agree or disagree” with them.
He used the opportunity to announce his decision to go for an unsolicited bid for refurbishing the power stations.
“I hear that, unfortunately, among our officials a view was being expressed that we must refurbish the power stations as coal-fired power stations. By you expressing that opinion you are contradicting the executive decision that I have taken,” Williams said.
Political parties, which included the EFF and ActionSA, interpreted Williams’ instruction as an intimidation of officials and a form of political interference in administration.
Both parties threatened to open criminal cases against Williams for allegedly interfering in the supply chain procurement process. They also called for the mayor to be put under forensic investigation for alleged undue influence on officials.
ANC caucus leader France Boshielo also called for Williams to be referred to the rules and ethics committee for an investigation into his conduct.
He said the ANC supported the move to address the energy crisis but was opposed to the unsolicited bid proposal.
Williams failed to state a valid reason why the metro could not go for a competitive bidding process, he said.
“The service provider identified is not a sole service provider. Why is the mayor rushing this report?” Boshielo said.
In a media statement, Williams said both the EFF and ActionSA colluded with a view to destabilise the municipality.
Williams said the recording was circulated with the intention to discredit and smear his name, and he threatened to take legal action against those behind the move. “This dishonest act was disturbing as it came from one of the coalition partners in the City, ActionSA, that is attempting to frame the recording as some indictment against me,” Williams said.
He said the meeting captured in the recording took place last year.
According to Williams, the purpose of the meeting was to workshop and brainstorm an investment proposal to repurpose the city’s coal-powered plants which have not been in use since 2014 and convert them to use gas.
He added that the intention was to generate 800 megawatts of power over the long term and the estimated amount of direct investment of R26bn.
“A solution that could end load shedding in our city,” Williams said.
ActionSA Gauteng chairperson Bongani Baloyi labelled Williams’ report as unlawful, and called on other parties to withdraw their support for it.
“The report is a request for public consultation to be conducted on an unsolicited bid to the amount of R26bn from an energy service provider to obtain a concession to refurbish, finance, operate and maintain both the Pretoria West and Rooiwal power stations,” Baloyi said in a media statement.
He said if Williams should proceed with the report to council, “and if it is approved with the support of the ANC or EFF, ActionSA will proceed to lodge complaints with the Office of the Public Protector, National Treasury, the Hawks and the SIU”.
The report by Williams was subsequently withdrawn in what ActionSA described as victory for the people of Tshwane and vindication of the party’s position that the position on unsolicited bid would be illegal.
Pretoria News