Did Tshwane buy 45 Apple iPhones?

How would any right thinking institution order 45 smartphones to the tune of almost R700 000? That in itself should have rung alarm bells. This was the reaction of City of Tshwane spokesman Selby Bokaba, rejecting the hefty bill for the alleged supply and delivery of 45 Apple iPhone 6 devices. The municipality has denied any knowledge of the procurement. The incident is playing itself out just days after Tshwane warned of a syndicate issuing fictitious tender documents and soliciting money from unsuspecting and gullible service providers. Maduludi CC says it supplied the smartphones to the city, and has threatened to take legal action if it does not receive the money. Lawyers for the company said the deal was commissioned through a certain Isaac Kekana, acting within the course and scope of his employment within the city, to supply the smartphones. These have yet to be paid for, despite allegedly having been delivered to the municipality.

The lawyers claim that between February and March, the company submitted a quote for the provision of the smartphones in accordance with the provisions of the city’s procurement policy and the Municipal Finance Management Act. The quotation was allegedly subsequently accepted and the company commissioned to procure and supply the goods, which it allegedly duly did. At the specific request of Kekana, to whose office the quotation was submitted and with whom the client has been liaising, the invoice for the goods to the amount of R692 373.53 was sent by e-mail to his city’s allocated address, the lawyers stated. Despite all the above, no payment had been received in spite of several requests, which were subsequently met with a denial of procurement. The attorneys said that during subsequent follow-up discussions regarding payment, Kekana alleged he did not procure the goods despite constant communication and the fact that the actual quotation was delivered and received by his office.

The supplier stated it attempted to solicit and secure payment but to no avail, and alleged that Kekana indicated he suspected there was fraudulent conduct. Attorneys said legal action would be instituted should the city not pay the money. Bokaba said Kekana, who worked in the electricity department, had nothing to do with the so-called procurement of smartphones. He said it appeared that the supplier was duped by a person who misrepresented himself as an employee of the City of Tshwane. “It was in fact Kekana who suspected foul play and blew the whistle… The city’s IT equipment is ordered through our information and communications technology department, which knows nothing about this matter,” he said. Bokaba said the city wished to issue a stern warning to suppliers to not be gullible. “When in doubt, do not call, but go to the office of the acting head of supply chain management, Bongani Mntambo, to verify the credentials of the persons wanting to procure,” he added.