News24

Free State govt: We paid R40m for website

2013-03-04 14:40

Bloemfontein - The Free State government paid R40m and not R140m to have its website redesigned, the provincial government’s director general said on Monday.

Director general Elzabe Rockman signed a three-year contract to redesign the website in 2011, the Sowetan reported. But Rockman has disputed this amount, claiming R40m was paid.

The agreement was signed with businessman Tumi Ntsele, who reportedly holds tenders with several other provincial departments.

The company was awarded the tender even though two other companies allegedly submitted significantly lower bids.

Etienne Bruwer, owner of web development company Jam Factory, told the newspaper the amount charged for the website was “ridiculous”.

“The company that is working on that site is probably making R3.5m profit a month,” he said.

Bruwer said the most paid for a website was R12m, by financial institutions which needed to protect sensitive information.

Ntsele told the newspaper opposition parties had an agenda against black businessmen and that the website’s cost was fair.

The website is powered by Wordpress which is a free blogging platform and according to developers is based on a theme called “London Live Wordpress Theme” which costs only $40.

Comments
  • dkh.khuzwayo - 2013-03-04 14:43

    Deny, deny, deny! Blah, blah!

      Poloyatonki - 2013-03-04 14:54

      Alicia...Its not your place to ask for proof, let the right people do that.

      handy.andy.773 - 2013-03-04 14:56

      Poloyatonki - can a tax payer not ask for proof? please, you are clueless.

      PointBlank - 2013-03-04 14:57

      Aaaaaand the race card was played!!! LMAO!

      RabbleRouser - 2013-03-04 14:57

      R40 million is still a ridiculously high amount.

      Beastley - 2013-03-04 14:59

      @Poloyatonki - Seriously???? I hope you are joking ...

      Flippncool - 2013-03-04 14:59

      The wordpress template cost $40 - about R350. So sure, that justifies charging R40 mil. Suuurrrre.

      Flippncool - 2013-03-04 15:02

      http://themeforest.net/item/london-live-3-in-1-news-magazine-and-blog/154462 I wonder if they even purchased it and got the license.

      maree.cassie - 2013-03-04 15:06

      polio you id10t!

      procold2 - 2013-03-04 15:10

      poliodonkey is just getting you all worked up, ignore

      Simon Duvenage - 2013-03-04 15:18

      My dear people. Polio Donkey has been an ANC troll on news 24 forums for a very long time - please don't give it the time of day. Besides, someone with so little interest in matters of corruption is either on the side of the corrupt or one the wastrels who do not pay a cent.

      andrew.hendrikse - 2013-03-04 15:22

      ...and the ANC wants the secrecy bill passed!!!

      Charles-Bronson Bronson - 2013-03-04 15:30

      Connection to 10.224.10.122 Failed Not even local host

      alan.gernet - 2013-03-04 15:31

      haibo - I got some Polio Donkey in my biltong!

      heathwaymaster - 2013-03-04 15:32

      What is so terribly sad, is that this ( R40 dropped from 140 miL) involving the highest level of collusion and corruption between the Municipality and this so called black businessman, makes the news for a day, and is then simply swept under the carpet with no consequences for the criminal activities involved. I guarantee this so called black businessman, has never ever switched on a computer, let alone knows what the word web site means. All he did was sub-contract the work to those who could do it, but paying them a 10% of his take. Just imagine how many tertiary education grants could have been granted for R 40 million. Just how much more are the honest, hardworking people going to stomach. The people should insist that every corrupt official, and corrupt deal be dealt with, and those found guilty must serve an extended prison sentence. The people must follow each case through, to see it has been properly executed. To top it all, this so called black businessman decides to throw the race card. I guarantee all those Municipal Officials involved in the deal, were so close to being sub-moronic in intelligence, that they had no idea what such a project costs. They accepted the first figure this so called black businessman sucked out of his anus. It appears the Government has pushed corruption down to the bottom of its list of priorities.

      Charles-Bronson Bronson - 2013-03-04 15:34

      ANC THIEF'S

      maria.roth.589 - 2013-03-04 15:50

      Poloyatonki. Who would that be if not the people? Who do you think you are to dictate? Go and learn about democracy you nincompoop.

      Robin - 2013-03-04 16:03

      R40 mil? What a disgrace ANC!!!

      gary.gordon.961993 - 2013-03-04 16:09

      Alicialouise.... I'm too old now to grasp much of what a website could cost but from what you are saying I can detect the aroma of bull faeces around this whole deal. My mind boggles - so much money for a website which is of no consequence anyway.

      Poloyatonki - 2013-03-04 16:18

      Alicia.. consider your tax more like paying a rent, after making a payment its none of your business what the landlord does with that money. Let me know if I must draw you a picture. Please stop typing in capital letters, I dont like that. @Imfene Safrica.. I am not a brainwashed ANC moron, this party did a lot for me. Especially liberating the masses, you can come to my township and i will show you RDP houses, Roads, Police Stations, Schools, Clinic, Bigger Taxi ranks, Free water, free electricity. We got all this under ANC, I owe them my vote.

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:50

      Dont give up. Report- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line.

      jesibelle.krugger - 2013-03-04 16:53

      ... IT IS TIME FOR THE GREAT TAX REVOLT..!!! Start by taking the ANC to court and sue them for 2/3rds of the tax money back - then take than money and give it to an administration appointed by bona-fide tax-payers...

      glyn.morgan.96 - 2013-03-04 17:09

      @Poloyatonki - Do not tell a citizen that it is "not your place" to ask tricky questions. That is a centerpiece of a free country.

      Tshepo Seabelo - 2013-03-04 17:39

      Poloyatonki ... your name says it all.

      hein.huyser - 2013-03-04 17:53

      @Poliodonkey, so you are one of the leeches, leeching of other people's taxes. Sis for you for "owing" cancer your vote for leeching on other's taxes. I can not believe you can actually breethe on your own. No wonder mad bob next door stayed in power even after bancrupting everyone there. But don't worry, your turn will come soon to be bancrupt as well. Sonder who you gonna nlame then? Dinosaur

      byron.matthews.562 - 2013-03-04 18:23

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/rorycellanjones/2010/07/the_105m_website.html

      byron.matthews.562 - 2013-03-04 18:31

      For 40 mil I don't mind if its a wordpress theme based site, as long as the theme was designed by Giorgio Armani himself and its hosted in the International Space Station's server room

      joeballito - 2013-03-04 18:42

      every single person that replies to the donkey is as thick as this troll is. He has been on this for more than a year and you still fall for his cr@p

      Grant Karl Hide - 2013-03-04 19:25

      Well at this rate of wastage we'll be paying a million for a tank of gas in no time.

      james.mngadi.3 - 2013-03-04 19:30

      Poloyatonki, excuse you! for this Gov. is the Gov. for the people and by the people, and mind you the people happens to be us the tax and rate payers.

      Marius Koen - 2013-03-04 20:45

      They should have used WIX free website builder, it's awesome. http://www.wix.com/

      gary.gordon.961993 - 2013-03-05 06:26

      Pollydonkey this is a democracy it's not tribal law ruled over by a king sitting in a circle with all of the elders saying "yes" everytime the king says something. We have the right to question everything because everything these brain-dead leaders do or say is usually criminal.

      brian.enslin - 2013-03-05 06:58

      Strange how the FS gov can fork out R40 Million for a website, but cannot pay the contractors they used to build the roads in the Free State. One of the contractors (Sanyati) went bankrupt because of the non-payment by the FS government.

      thin.king.965 - 2013-03-05 07:10

      One of the shocking points here is the fact that there is no process to pick up such glaring irregularities. Whether it be R1m or R100m - there should be a financial comitee aproving expenses and an audit commitee checking tender processes!

      Maureen Dent - 2013-03-05 08:03

      I am sickened by this thieving! that is the most basic of basic websites- doesn't even have a database or anything. R40 million!!! ANC go to hell you robbers of the poor.

      Joe Soapie - 2013-03-05 09:15

      Poloyatonki said: // consider your tax more like paying a rent, after making a payment its none of your business what the landlord does with that money. // ROFLMFAO!!! HAHAHAHAH!!! Oh my giddy aunt, that is literally the stupidest thing I've ever heard. You haven't the faintest idea about your rights as a citizen. Paying tax is NOTHING like paying rent - you can't even REMOTELY connect the two. A landlord OWNS the property you are renting, the government RUNS the country but does NOT own it and they are accountable to the citizens of the country. The country is OWNED by the people NOT the government. The government are administrators, set with the task of running the country FOR us. Seriously, get a clue dude.

      Hendri Hennie Potgieter - 2013-03-05 10:09

      Just had to login to dislike Polo's comment. What an idiot. Sure lets waste some cash, we have more where that came from

      Vaughan - 2013-03-05 11:14

      The question should be why isn't SITA handling IT related projects. That is SITA's mandate and if they don't perform their core duties, SITA should be discontinued.

      Alaric Heim - 2013-03-05 11:28

      @Poloyatonki, so are you the right person??? You are a symptom of what's so wrong in this country.....idiot!

      Timothy Tanzer - 2013-03-05 11:57

      @ poly how does it feel to be a brainwashed ANC supporter... they are laughing at you right now... seriously.... a landlord?? the government...no my friendm the government is here to serve us... not profit of us. Idiot

      motlalepula.sompane - 2013-03-05 13:12

      i really wanted to see what the site looks like. but, for R40 mil, we get a site that's unable to handle traffic? wow! the FS government must get a refund

      Hendri Hennie Potgieter - 2013-03-06 10:39

      Just another thing Polo. Here is your twitter: https://twitter.com/Poloyatonki This tweet kind of got my attention: @FloydSGlobalPR @JuIiusMalema This account is fake, I hope a white man behind it ends up with a Phanga in his head like ET.

      Riley Archer - 2013-03-06 14:41

      It's election time again..the lesser officials get burned to make the majority look good.

      bullet.proof.9400 - 2013-03-06 17:16

      All I can say is F... this corrupt government and that crook that won the tender

  • david.luis.9822924 - 2013-03-04 14:45

    And R40M for a website is reasonable?????????? bunch of corrupt thieves!!!!!!!!!

      Flippncool - 2013-03-04 15:01

      Been developing sites for over 10 years now, I can say with authority that R40mil is ludicrous - especially since it's done with Wordpress and the template costs $40. I've trained old grannies to update their own WP / Joomla websites.

      kalabafazi - 2013-03-04 15:13

      Here are a few more. I wonder if the same price was paid for each. 163.195.16.73.... agric.ncape.gov.za cemis.wcape.gov.za cplweb.pals.gov.za dashboard.pgwc.gov.za dedetgis.mpg.gov.za dedetkm.mpg.gov.za demand.hssonline.gov.za denc.ncpg.gov.za dhs.mpg.gov.za dmis.wcape.gov.za dmistest.wcape.gov.za dpw.ecprov.gov.za dsac.ncpg.gov.za dws.wcape.gov.za eccsd.ecprov.gov.za echousing.ecprov.gov.za eclgta.ecprov.gov.za econ.ncape.gov.za economic.ncape.gov.za edupals.wcape.gov.za eduweb.pals.gov.za emis.fsdoe.fs.gov.za emisnc.ncpg.gov.za enviro.kzntl.gov.za fsagric.fs.gov.za fsda.ofs.gov.za fsdoe.fs.gov.za fsdp.fs.gov.za fsgis.fs.gov.za gis.pgwc.gov.za gwweb.pgwc.gov.za hrms.ncedu.gov.za hssonline.ofs.gov.za kimsrv11.ncpg.gov.za

      jan.vanniekerk.52 - 2013-03-04 16:14

      For just R23000 I'll show them how to get rid of that nasty-looking ?page_id= in the header ...

      Simon Johan Human - 2013-03-04 16:28

      http://themeforest.net/item/london-live-3-in-1-news-magazine-and-blog/154462 <- Heres the template the company used. Cost them 400 bucks.

      aniken.vader.31 - 2013-03-04 17:12

      This has to go down as the most expensive copy and paste in the history of the internet.

      glyn.morgan.96 - 2013-03-04 17:18

      I wrote my website for free!! Ha! Ha! (It looks like it too, but that is another subject!)

      glyn.morgan.96 - 2013-03-04 17:19

      The anc are such a bunch of corrupt bloggers! Wordpress?! Ha! Ha!

      dewet.duplessis.90 - 2013-03-04 18:05

      It is no corruption folks, relax! It is WEALTH REDUSTRIBUTION!

      Vaughan - 2013-03-05 11:16

      @dewet.duplessis.90, wealth redistribution if you bribe the right people.

  • eugene.brink.9 - 2013-03-04 14:45

    I want in on this. I'll design the next one and only charge R39 mil!

      Flippncool - 2013-03-04 15:10

      I'll do it for R39k with one hand tied behind my back.

      eugene.brink.9 - 2013-03-04 15:15

      I'll do it for R39.5 mil AND throw in a Wordpress manual on how to create free blogs. They won't read it anyway and I'll just overcharge them again for the next one.

      Flippncool - 2013-03-04 15:19

      Oooh your labola is too strong for me ;-)

      Jacques Du Plessis - 2013-03-04 15:47

      I can do it for R40mil and throw in a free Ferrari after payment

      eugene.brink.9 - 2013-03-04 15:47

      C'mon Flippncool n Toby, you're forgetting how business with govt works in SA. It's about providing the lowest value for the highest price. So here goes my final offer, but this one's final! I'll do it for R45 mil, pay R5 mil in bribes to get the tender (I need an advance on the bribe too!), even show you how Wordpress works (which is on Google), give the whole project to my 12-year old nephew (who'll do it for R200 and a peanutbutter sandwich) and promise to pay no tax on the R40 mil.

      Flippncool - 2013-03-04 16:06

      Spot on Eugene - I think you should do seminars at the ANC offices ;-)

      almeleh - 2013-03-04 16:19

      Sorry Eugene, it's not about the money, it's about your colour.

      glyn.morgan.96 - 2013-03-04 17:23

      I'll do it for R80 mil and give them a R10 discount for cash if they pay into my Cayman Is account. I think that I have a winner here!

      Flippncool - 2013-03-04 17:34

      Kevin - only if it's a Redstone XT with 1mb of memory, running DOS, and priced at R2mil.

  • Beastley - 2013-03-04 14:45

    Criminals - This country is rife with criminals from this thief to the dirty police to the corrupt presidency. What an abomination !!

      Marius Pretorius - 2013-03-04 15:59

      Some of the characteristics of a banana Republic are clearly displayed. The worst is yet to come.

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:51

      Dont give up. Report- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line.

  • Wike Mood - 2013-03-04 14:45

    and once again the public take it in the bum.

      Poloyatonki - 2013-03-04 14:54

      Not me dude...

      kalabafazi - 2013-03-04 15:04

      Especially you

      alan.gernet - 2013-03-04 15:18

      yahh well Poly - if you get a job one day and pay tax, you will take it then...

      alan.gernet - 2013-03-04 15:42

      get real Toby - tenderpeneurs do not pay tax.

      Jacques Du Plessis - 2013-03-04 15:48

      Poloyahonki, you take it because you like it, thats why you vote them in

      Daryl Jackson - 2013-03-04 15:50

      haha polytonk you got it in the bum the most today with no vaseline OOUUCH!!!!!!!!!

      Imfene Safrica - 2013-03-04 15:59

      Nice try Toby - but I think PolioDonkey has already proven that he is TOO THICK to learn anything...

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:52

      Dont take it. Do something!!!!- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line. Call. I did.

      hein.huyser - 2013-03-04 18:00

      polyodonkey, you are the bum

      Joe Soapie - 2013-03-05 09:19

      Poloyatonki :- IF you are paying tax (and I honestly don't think you are), then you are included as well. Deny it all you want but plonking your head in the sand isn't going to make the problem go away.

  • kalabafazi - 2013-03-04 14:45

    "Ntsele told the newspaper opposition parties had an agenda against black businessmen and that the website’s cost was fair." When reasonable arguments are lacking... Play the race card!!!!!!! Because a white man can sell you a web site for, at the most, R12 million, but a black man charges, for the sake of this argument, R40 Million, doesn't mean the opposition has an agenda against black people. What it really means is that the anc ministers are letting that tax payer get ripped off!!!

      state.quo - 2013-03-04 14:53

      Its not R12 million, you could buy this website yourself and set it up today for around R700 including a years hosting. That's how bad this is

      kalabafazi - 2013-03-04 15:05

      That's why I said, at the most. That means for any web site. As you rightly pointed out, the platform they are using is a fair bit cheaper.

      fargone - 2013-03-04 15:24

      Can you imagine the kickbacks, I mean lets be serious, nobody gets paid that amount and does not get some on the side. Someone other than the designer got very rich, very quickly!

      Flippncool - 2013-03-04 15:36

      Like BBEE's to the honey pot.

      Flippncool - 2013-03-04 15:46

      There wasn't any design involved toby - they bought the template for $40 from here: http://themeforest.net/item/london-live-3-in-1-news-magazine-and-blog/154462 (Well, I'm ASSUMING they paid for the license to use the template).

  • Craig Ellis - 2013-03-04 14:46

    Hope the people of South Africa are waking up to the fact that "their" government is robbing them blind!

      PointBlank - 2013-03-04 15:04

      Their govt is your govt sadly. But the govt will continue being govt for all the wrong reasons, not because they good at it but because of history.

      alan.gernet - 2013-03-04 15:20

      aaargh Pointblank - give the Govt a break man. They have only got 20 years experience, and the legacy of apartheid will be around for at least another 100 years.

      Mark Singh Singh - 2013-03-04 15:39

      Craig, the people that need to wake up are the ANC supporters. And most of them think a website is where Insy Winsy spider lives.

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:53

      Dont take it. Do something!!!!- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line. Call. I did.

      Erin Wanza - 2013-03-05 07:10

      ANC supporters dont understand that very soon the cupboards will be bare

  • Michael Atkins - 2013-03-04 14:46

    I could have charged R3m for this whole job, including substantial content preparation and user training, and still considered myself to be earning above the odds.

      Flippncool - 2013-03-04 15:11

      R3m would still be a rip off. More like R5k worth.

      Erin Wanza - 2013-03-05 07:05

      @michael, you're as corrupt

  • Sarah - 2013-03-04 14:48

    Isn't it a money-laundering scheme?

      alan.gernet - 2013-03-04 15:21

      not sure - but we sure are being taken to the cleaners...

  • musa.kamashobane - 2013-03-04 14:49

    Lies, lies and damn lies. This confirms how our tax monies are being abused. Website for R40mil, do they think we are stupids?

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:54

      Dont take it. Do something!!!!- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line. Call. I did.

  • CALAMITYSA - 2013-03-04 14:49

    Still R39.5m too much - Go directly to jail!

      lablue.phoenix - 2013-03-04 15:11

      Dude, even R500k is too much. R20k, maximum.

      stirrer.stirrer - 2013-03-04 16:45

      For Wordpress and a $40 template, R5000 maximum (hosting included).

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:54

      Dont take it. Do something!!!!- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line. Call. I did.

  • werner.nel.984786 - 2013-03-04 14:51

    As soon as we start asking questions about tender irregularities, they play the Race card. Same here in Limpopo. Telecoms company gets a R41Mil tender but all competing tenders were around R28Mil. When questioned, they also called the other companies Racist....

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:54

      Dont take it. Do something!!!!- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line. Call. I did.

  • jus.manning - 2013-03-04 14:51

    40Million and it cant even handle the traffic its incurring from this story. Website runs like cr@p and doesn't even have logic.. its a point and click site that any web design student could have put together.

      Holdanigono - 2013-03-04 15:19

      Had a look at the site- it's full of holes. Click on the comment tab in the sidebar and it jumps down to the bottom of the page.

      mike.bundy.73 - 2013-03-04 18:45

      And they have not even done a spell-check - just see the "CALENDER" at the bottom of their page. Good grief.

      Vaughan - 2013-03-05 11:18

      I think if a web design student handed that in as their project they would get an F. But then again we know of one person who got an F for woodwork and he ended up scoring big time off government tenders.

  • simon.pearce.790 - 2013-03-04 14:51

    R39,500,000-00 too much. This is the most gross misuse of funds, and needs to be dealt with.

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:55

      Dont take it. Do something!!!!- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line. Call. I did.

  • simon.pearce.790 - 2013-03-04 14:53

    Not to mention that I tried to access it about 4 minutes ago, and still not loaded!!!!!

      goyougoodthing - 2013-03-04 15:07

      It seems to be down.

      lacrimosewolf - 2013-03-04 18:22

      They will charge another R40m for the site to load :P

  • NicolasGombert - 2013-03-04 14:53

    Has anybody seen the website? I bet the only content is a lot of speeches made by some irrelevant politician.

      kalabafazi - 2013-03-04 15:07

      I've seen morgues more exciting than that web site.

      Tersia Louw - 2013-03-04 15:17

      It's awful - clunky, irrelevant copy writing with all the cliches clicking into place, crap spelling, poor layout and it took forever to open.

      John - 2013-03-04 15:43

      Cant get onto the site....times out!

      DrGonzoSA - 2013-03-04 16:02

      I'm no designer but... Times New Roman ! *VOMIT*

  • Watkykj - 2013-03-04 14:54

    hahahahahaha the race card....hilarious.

  • swessels1 - 2013-03-04 14:55

    As a web developer myself the most that i will charge for a "wordpress" website is R30 000. heck it is just unethical to charge 40 million. These developers are taking big chances

      Mosa Eugene Nkuna - 2013-03-04 15:12

      Obviously the "developer" doesn't think the website costs R40 million. This is just a vehicle for embezzlement. Everyone gets a paycheck for a *stunning* website!

      goyougoodthing - 2013-03-04 15:13

      Well they are using WP meaning that they are not even developers. I use it a lot because it does the job for a fraction of a custom site, but when a site needs great security, WP is not the way to go, especially for a government department. I wish it would actually open so I could look at it...

      paul.kershaw.18 - 2013-03-04 15:13

      The developers aren't taking chances at all- they're just taking... and then paying under the table as a backhander.

      Holdanigono - 2013-03-04 15:21

      It is evil to charge so much

  • Stephen Dunkley - 2013-03-04 14:55

    paid $40 for the site and charged R40 000 000 that's a reasonable profit for a friend of the ANC........................what a bunch of FKING crooks.

  • Gary Doyle - 2013-03-04 14:55

    Web of lies and corruption

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:56

      Dont take it. Do something!!!!- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line. Call. I did.

  • justin.rens.9 - 2013-03-04 14:56

    Elzabe Rockman your pants are on fire.

      alan.gernet - 2013-03-04 15:24

      use a pantyHOSE to put it out...

  • Pierre Laing - 2013-03-04 14:56

    Vote ANC, together we can steal more!

      Erin Wanza - 2013-03-05 06:56

      the bastards are planning to steal everything,

  • Matt Cumming - 2013-03-04 14:58

    most of the Free State's residents don't even have internet. How disconnected are these ANC fat cats from their people?

      DrGonzoSA - 2013-03-04 16:04

      As disconnected as possible. Suits the trough pigs agenda. Then blame apartheid for their woes

  • angelanair3 - 2013-03-04 14:58

    Ridiculous! Its amazing how you can spend money that you never earned. Its our taxes guys! Irresponsible, denialists, corrupted people! Oh I give up.......

      alan.gernet - 2013-03-04 15:25

      dont give up ... the tide is changing...

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:25

      Dont give up. Report- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line.

  • PointBlank - 2013-03-04 14:58

    "Ntsele told the newspaper opposition parties had an agenda against black businessmen...." YAWN!!

      Tersia Louw - 2013-03-04 15:19

      The joker in the pack playing the race card.

      Om Nom Nom - 2013-03-04 15:42

      After every stupid excuse is exhausted... there is always the race card to fall back on. (Apparently it's not old yet).

      alan.gernet - 2013-03-04 15:43

      and apartheid...

      Kevin Kramer - 2013-03-05 17:02

      Blame the west...and colonialism...and the settlers...and....zzzzz...a thousand years will pass, and they will still BEE acting like children...but that's the white man's fault...

  • Shawne Bedford - 2013-03-04 14:58

    kwa kwa kwa.... whats even more funny is the site is hosted on an overseas server - Cant believe it - a south african government site that isnt even hosted in our own country....

      dewald.smit - 2013-03-04 15:16

      Please provide proof too your statement. This is what I get: U:\>tracert www.freestateonline.fs.gov.za Tracing route to iproxy1.openet.gov.za [163.195.16.73] over a maximum of 30 hops: 1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 10.240.100.65 2 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 172.17.0.2 3 2 ms 9 ms 1 ms 41.160.136.129 4 2 ms 1 ms 2 ms 164.146.0.170 5 4 ms 4 ms 7 ms 41.160.186.41 6 14 ms 8 ms 25 ms 41.160.24.13 7 * * * Request timed out.

      etienne.odendaal.1 - 2013-03-04 15:23

      Seems to be a local IP http://www.tcpiputils.com/browse/ip-address/163.195.16.73

      mike.bundy.73 - 2013-03-04 18:51

      According to http://whatismyipaddress.com/ it's in Kimberley

      karl.wortmann - 2013-03-05 05:25

      tons of .gov sites running on that server. I wonder what hosting is costing them? i think that web host also needs investigating...

      Erin Wanza - 2013-03-05 06:51

      @wartman,/ that'd be interesting

      Vaughan - 2013-03-05 11:11

      It's hosted in SITA's server farm. And by right SITA should be developing these sites. Thats what they are paid to do.

  • Andre Stols - 2013-03-04 14:59

    who pays R 40 million for a website?-must be the most expensive one in the world, even more than any 1st world governments' websites or any of the largest companies worldwide-does not sound right - a commission must be appointed to investigate, once again a mistake that must be corrected via taxpayers money by virtue of the commission that must investigate????????????

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:57

      Dont take it. Do something!!!!- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line. Call. I did.

  • handy.andy.773 - 2013-03-04 14:59

    http://www.fsl.gov.za/OrganizationalStructure.html This website is not worth more than a few hunred thousand rand, if that. I can knock it together in a few weeks. This is SHOCKING!! some of the pages dont even work!! Like this one: http://www.fsl.gov.za/OrganizationalStructure.html

      Flippncool - 2013-03-04 15:13

      Please, dude, if the content was supplied with pics this website could be knocked together in 3 days max. I wouldn't pay more than R12k for something like this. R5k would be reasonable.

      alan.gernet - 2013-03-04 15:26

      yaah handy andy --- not everything will work - it's called forward planning. They have to raise a budget in the future to get the darned thing fixed and working as well!

      handy.andy.773 - 2013-03-04 15:53

      @Flippncool, I said I can knock it together, not a skilled web designer :) I do know a thing or two about systems though, and R40m would buy you a very expensive system installed by consultants and run on an outsourced environment for a few years. The people loosing out here are the desperate poor in the FS, needing education and basic services. Well done ANC, once again.

  • desire.thomas.10 - 2013-03-04 14:59

    Bloody idiots! And whos the criminal that charged you R40m for a website! Are yall that retarded? And the audacity to say '40' not 150, dumb thieves the lot!

  • Jason Heineberg - 2013-03-04 15:00

    If they paid 1% of what they did, it still would be a rip off...

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:58

      Dont take it. Do something!!!!- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line. Call. I did.

  • sian.okeeffe - 2013-03-04 15:00

    This is what R40 million gets you: ERROR The requested URL could not be retrieved While trying to retrieve the URL: http://www.freestateonline.fs.gov.za/ The following error was encountered: Connection to 10.224.10.122 Failed The system returned: (60) Operation timed out The remote host or network may be down. Please try the request again. Your cache administrator is webmaster. Generated Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:59:15 GMT by iproxy1.openet.gov.za (squid/2.5.STABLE14)

  • Michael Hogg - 2013-03-04 15:00

    Calling all hackers...

      Greg for now - 2013-03-04 15:32

      anyone tried the admin user?

      Flippncool - 2013-03-04 17:35

      admin / admin would be funny...

  • sonny.brilliant - 2013-03-04 15:01

    40 million rand word press site!!! if you are willing to spend that kind of money you can write your own platform. And who ever tries to justify this amount will look more ridiculous with each word.... It just does not make sense. This project cannot costs more than 5 million even with the inflated SITA consultants pricing guides.

      Bernard Brink - 2013-03-04 15:33

      Makes me feel underpaid! :D

      Gee Zes - 2013-03-04 23:43

      http://vip.wordpress.com/our-services/#self-hosted have a look at those licensing fees.

  • Lindy Jeffery - 2013-03-04 15:03

    Gosh! Only R40m.!!!!!!!!.............Must have had a tight budget. :-)

  • Eterni80 - 2013-03-04 15:04

    ah, only R40 million - all is forgiven NOT !!!!!!!

  • 0744142522 - 2013-03-04 15:04

    This is so ridiculous, R40million while we make an expensive website with R12 0000.00 only.

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:28

      Dont give up. Report- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line.

  • pws69 - 2013-03-04 15:04

    That is still R39,9 million too much. WHO GOT THE BRIBES! I've mailed the DA Free State Office with a list of questions I want answered. I have also asked that they use the Finance Act to charge these cretins.

      Tersia Louw - 2013-03-04 15:20

      Good for you!

      Holdanigono - 2013-03-04 15:23

      R39,995 million to much

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:29

      @pws69- I have contacted SARS fraud hotline ref:RSP66013.0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line.

  • MJS1234 - 2013-03-04 15:06

    Two possibles here, either the Free State government is beyond stupid and have been conned out of R40 million for a basically free website, or once again they are giving out tenders to buddies and family! I kinda hope they are just stupid! And no, nobody has a problem with "black" business men, but all us tax payers have a huge problem with criminal, greedy, corrupt ones. Thieving pricks!

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:30

      Dont give up. Report- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line.

  • Rob - 2013-03-04 15:06

    So Ntsele is saying that if you are black you can charge hundreds of times more than the service costs that you are providing. Now that's racist!

  • fidel.uncensored - 2013-03-04 15:08

    "Ntsele told the newspaper opposition parties had an agenda against black businessmen and that the website’s cost was fair." Eff off, do you think we are stupid!

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:30

      Dont give up. Report- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line.

  • paul.kershaw.18 - 2013-03-04 15:09

    Racism card pulled again. duh! smells of kickbacks and anc corruption to me.

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:30

      Dont give up. Report- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line.

      tiaan.vanderberg.75 - 2013-03-04 19:28

      hey piccky can you give us that number again please.

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 19:38

      @tiaan- its... its... uh... uh.Damn I cant remember. If you really want it Im sure you can find it.

  • Marcelle Heymans - 2013-03-04 15:10

    I charged R2000.00 for a similar website and I thought I was overcharging. Stupid me!

      Wike Mood - 2013-03-04 15:26

      hahahaha.

      Alaric Heim - 2013-03-05 11:52

      "So Ntsele is saying that if you are black you can charge hundreds of times more than the service costs that you are providing. Now that's racist!" You are not black so you can't charge what they do!

  • JJ Viviers - 2013-03-04 15:10

    bwahahaha!

  • john.comyn.18 - 2013-03-04 15:10

    I'm in the business and no company in SA would pay 40m let alone 140m for a website. It's the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard of. Wordpress is a free and open source blogging tool and a content management system. In essence it is a simple to use platform to build simple websites and the software is free. So all the costs must be for labour. A 3 year contract to build a website is also bizarre. Something is very wrong here.

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:31

      Dont give up. Report- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line.

  • CommonSense - 2013-03-04 15:10

    So sad. We live in a country where thieves prosper and the people in government are so thick, they don't even know when they're being taken for a ride.

      DrGonzoSA - 2013-03-04 16:05

      Oh they knew exactly what they were doing

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:31

      Dont give up. Report- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line.

  • dewald.smit - 2013-03-04 15:11

    And the site does not even work. http://www.freestateonline.fs.gov.za/

      mike.bundy.73 - 2013-03-04 18:55

      Works for me. Unfortunately. Now I've had to stare at that bad spelling and antiquated layout I feel really nauseated thinking of R40 million wasted on a R20k website..

  • Anton Dekker - 2013-03-04 15:13

    R140million, R40million, what is the differences? I'm also in the media world, and R50 000 was the most I ever heard anyone paid for an very extensive and constantly evolving website! A website like the Free State government website should cost between R10 000 and R30 000. That is all! The rest is corrupt and blatant money stealing! "Ntsele told the newspaper opposition parties had an agenda against black businessmen and that the website’s cost was fair." No Tumi Ntsele, no one has anything against "black" businessmen, we all have something against corrupt, money stealing, lying, cheating, blatantly self-enriching businessmen on the cost of millions of really suffering people in this country!

      piccky.wockky - 2013-03-04 16:32

      Dont give up. Report- 0800 00 2870 SARS anti corruption line.

  • criticallyhonest - 2013-03-04 15:13

    I have been waiting for a couple of days for an opportunity to use this one from Eric Arthur Blair (Orwell). “In a way, the world-view of the party imposed itself most successfully on people incapable of understanding it. They could be made to accept the most flagrant violation, because they never fully grasped the enormity of what was demanded of them, and were not sufficiently interested in public events to notice what was happening. By lack of understanding they remained sane. They simply swallowed everything and what they swallowed did them no harm because it left no residue behind, just as a grain of corn will pass undigested through the body of a bird.” ? George Orwell, Animal Farm

  • Zolile Ndila - 2013-03-04 15:14

    I'm find it very strange that the service provider, Mr. Ntsele does not dispute the R140 m

  • Eric Rimmer - 2013-03-04 15:14

    This is what you get for R40,000,000 http://www.fsl.gov.za/

      Eric Rimmer - 2013-03-04 15:17

      On the bottom left of the site there is a Poll asking Do you like the new FSL website? everyone click on NO!!!!

      Tersia Louw - 2013-03-04 15:23

      I did click "no" when it finally opened, but now I'm worried that if many of us do that, they may re-design and cost the tax payers even more.

      Bob Wowzer - 2013-03-04 15:24

      No Eric... saying no would give them a reason to throw even more money at their website business buddy...