Resources How to Tender Tender Articles Tender Sectors Tender News

Court battle over veterans’ R10m bill

The Defence and Military Veterans minister and Zeal Health Innovations - a company which tendered to provide health care and counselling to military veterans - will battle it out in the high court in Pretoria on Friday over the alleged non-payment of R10 million by the minister for the services provided to the veterans. The company turned to court this week to obtain an urgent order compelling the minister to pay up. But Judge Peter Mabuse first heard arguments on behalf of the minister, in which she asked for permission to file opposing papers. This was done three weeks late, as neither the minister nor the Defence director-general were available to answer to the allegations against the department. Judge Mabuse has also said that the department aimed to launch a counter-application, in which it will ask the court to review and set aside the contract it had entered into with Zeal Health Innovations.

It was said on behalf of the minister that the issue of health care to the veterans was very important and of public interest, and that the minister and director-general should have the opportunity to state their side. Iain Currie, acting for the company, said the minister or any of her delegates had ample opportunity to answer to the allegations. He argued that while no answers were forthcoming as to why no payment had been made, the veterans’ health care was being compromised. Currie said the department was obliged to provide health care to the veterans, and by not paying the service provider the situation was getting worse by the day. “The veterans say they are in a dire situation. That is why the matter is so urgent. “There is no explanation as to why the applicant is not being paid, and this impacts on the veterans. This is a contemptuous attitude by the state towards the military veterans,” Currie said.

Judge Mabuse gave the State the go-ahead to file its defence at this late stage, and indicated that he would hear the main application on Friday. The company was earlier awarded the tender to provide medical services to more than 16 000 military veterans. It claimed that it had not received any payment from the department since it started rendering services in June. Yet, these former freedom fighters had to be provided with health care services and medicine, for which Zeal Health said it had to pay.

Source: www.iol.co.za

BACK TO NEWS

Court battle over veterans’ R10m bill

Latest News