Minister rejects tender claims

2008-03-23 17:12

Johannesburg - The Minister of Social Development, Zola Skweyiya, has rejected allegations of conflict of interest relating to a social grants tender.

The City Press newspaper on Sunday said Skweyiya was likely to award a tender to a businessman the paper alleges is Mrs Thuthukile Skweyiya's business partner.

The Department of Social Development said in a statement on Sunday that Skweyiya did not play any role in the processing, evaluation and adjudication of tenders.

Also, Mrs Skweyiya had strongly denied being a business partner of a businessman the paper alleged was one of the key bidders, which partnership it said would amount to a conflict of interest.

"The evaluation of the social grants tender is being undertaken by senior officials from the Departments of Social Development, Treasury and the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), with support from the offices of the Auditor General and the Special Investigating Unit amongst others.

"It is also incorrect to say that the SA Social Security Agency, (SASSA), CEO Mr Fezile Makiwane will make a recommendation to the Minister on the preferred bidder.

"An adjudication committee will soon be appointed, and that committee will make a recommendation to the Ministers of Social Development, Treasury and DPSA.

"The recommendation will not be done by SASSA or its CEO."

- SAPA