THURSDAY, 1.00PM:
A FURORE has broken out over transport parastatal Transnet’s award of lucrative public relations contracts to Simeka TWS Communications, because Transnet MD Saki Macozoma sits on Simeka’s board.
National Party MP Daryl Swanepoel has accused Transnet of a “gross conflict of interest”, and claims that Simeka was awarded Transnet contracts irregularly. Swanepoel claimed the Simeka tender was accepted even though it was not the cheapest.
Both Simeka and Transnet on Wednesday firmly denied Swanepoel’s claims. Simeka said it had informed Transnet of Macozoma’s directorship, and tendered for all contracts in an open manner.
Transnet echoed the denial, with spokesman Tami Didiza saying the NP allegations are “completely without foundation”. Didiza confirmed that Macozoma’s directorship had been openly disclosed at a Transnet board meeting, and that Macozoma had played no part in awarding the tenders.