Ekurhuleni’s R2bn Security Tender Sparks Legal Dispute

The Johannesburg High Court has granted a hearing to several security companies in Gauteng who are challenging the Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality over a disputed R2-billion tender. This decision follows months of disputes, providing these companies with a significant advantage and setting the stage for a high-stakes legal confrontation as reported by the Sunday World.

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In a letter obtained by Sunday World, Deputy Judge President Roland Sutherland has referred the case to case management and appointed Justice Rean Strydom to oversee the proceedings. The letter instructs the involved parties, including Mabotwane Security Services, KNM Security, LL Security CC, and the metropolitan municipality, to collaborate with Justice Strydom and his clerk, Mr. T Fakude, to initiate the case management process.

Sutherland has directed both the security companies and the municipality to provide a status quo report to Justice Strydom. This report should outline the disputed and undisputed issues, propose or agree upon a timetable, and address any other relevant matters that may arise during the case management proceedings.

Once the case is certified as ready for a hearing, the parties can request a trial date from the registrar, who will typically assign the next available date. The role of the case management judge concludes when they issue a certificate of readiness.

The legal battle began with an urgent summons issued to the Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality by the security companies, demanding an explanation for certain discrepancies. These companies have raised concerns about the unusually swift appointment of new security firms after receiving bids. They also question the feasibility of the municipality evaluating 231 bids and conducting site inspections within just 25 days.

The security companies have cast doubt on the fairness of the evaluation process, alleging that expected site inspections were not carried out. Political pressure may have influenced the process in favour of specific bidders. Additionally, they dispute the quality of security services provided by the winning tenderers, alleging that they needed to recruit their own security guards, potentially lacking the required security personnel.

Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini stated, “The matter remains sub judice, and we will address it through the case management process. Kindly note that there has been no engagement as yet, and two of the companies have withdrawn their participation in the process.”

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Photo: Facebook / @Sunday World