Transport, Public Enterprises dismiss reports over SANRAL tenders

• Published date: 27 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

The Ministries of Transport and Public Enterprises, have dismissed articles published by the Independent Newspapers group in relation to contracts worth R17.4 billion by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL).

These contracts were in relation to strategic projects that are critical in growing the country's economy as part of investments in infrastructure. The tenders were not approved to be awarded due to a material irregularity in the tender process where a resolution made by the Board in January 2020 was not implemented in the evaluation of the said tenders.

However, the articles published by the Independent Newspapers group claimed that Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan allegedly fell out over the R17 billion contracts.

'For the past three days, various titles of the Independent group have published a series of patently false front-page stories regarding Mbalula and Gordhan,' a joint statement by the Ministries of Transport and Public Enterprises said on Friday.

The Ministries said the articles make accusations, with no factual basis, that Minister Gordhan has improper, corrupt relationships with service providers of the SANRAL, that 'Gordhan interfered' in SANRAL tenders to benefit a private company and that there is disunity and divisions in Cabinet.

'These...