Protector may probe Zille govt tender

2011-08-21 17:57

Johannesburg - Public Protector Thuli Madonsela will decide this week whether to investigate a communications tender in the Western Cape, her spokesperson said on Sunday.

The tender, worth between R50m and R70m awarded to agency TBWA Hunt Lascaris, is a two year contract for the development and implementation of a brand and communications strategy for the Western Cape government.

Madonsela's spokesperson, Kgalalelo Masibi, said the case was currently under assessment to determine whether an investigation was necessary.

The Sunday Times reported that the Western Cape provincial treasury had found a lack of control measures and good governance principles in awarding the tender.

Premier Helen Zille told the paper she believed the tender process had been "transparent, fair, equitable, competitive and cost-effective".

"I said we had nothing to hide, and requested the auditor general to conduct a tender process audit," she said.

- SAPA