15 February 2010

The IFP has disputed the claims by the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature that the catering tender for Nonkululeko Mhlongo, the mother of President Jacob Zuma’s two children from Pietermaritzburg, was awarded on merit.  

In the 2008/2009 financial year, Mhlongo’s company Bucebo General Trading was awarded a contract to the value of R1.303.671,50 for catering for snacks and lunches at the provincial legislature.

“The R1.3-million in question is part of the legislature’s irregular expenditure of R19.017.025 for catering during that financial year,” said IFP KwaZulu-Natal public accounts spokesperson Dr Lionel Mtshali.

The legislature broke the law by awarding the catering tender to Mhlongo and another bidder before the expiry of the 21-day period for review of all bidding proposals. Similarly, the award of this tender was not advertised in the government gazette as required by the Treasury Regulations.

“This leads us to believe that Bucebo General Trading received preferential treatment from the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature which did not ensure that all bidding proposals for the catering tender were considered fairly and advertised properly for public scrutiny,” said Dr Mtshali.

Contact: Dr Lionel Mtshali, 078 302 0929