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eThekwini opts to bypass tender for monument

The eThekwini Municipality has decided to appoint contractors without going to tender in an apparent move to avoid forfeiting R5 million to KwaZulu-Natal Treasury for the erection of the Indentured Indians Monument in Durban. This emerged when the Office of the Premier tabled a progress report to the portfolio committee on Premier and Royal Household to the KZN legislature on Tuesday as questions were asked if the funding would not be withdrawn by provincial Treasury. This takes place as the provincial department is identifying projects for possible suspension as the province faces R1 billion budget cuts in the 2016/17 financial year. It also takes place almost eight months after the Premier’s office threatened to withdraw the R4.8m allocated to the municipality to honour the arrival of indentured Indian labourers in Durban in 1860.

The monument plans date back to 2010/11 when former Premier Zweli Mkhize allocated R50m towards the project, but it had been unspent over the years. This was the learnt following an audit at the Premier’s office by the Auditor-General in the last financial year. The project has apparently experienced delays in the identification of the site and the appointment of an artist to erect the planned monument. On Tuesday, acting director-general Frikkie Brooks said the project was earmarked to be completed by May, according to the revised project plan. He also said the matter had been before the eThekwini executive committee (Exco) last week. An official from the Premier’s office said Exco approved the use of Section 36 to hire a contractor for the erection of the monument. But, DA caucus leader Sizwe Mchunu said there were always reservations about the use of Section 36. Mchunu also questioned whether the money must be forfeited considering provincial treasury had informed the committee earlier that funding for the monument had been withdrawn due to budget cuts.

Source: www.iol.co.za

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eThekwini opts to bypass tender for monument

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