FALLOUT BETWEEN BAC AND POLITICIANS/COUNCILLORS IN TSHWANE MUNICIPALITY

Reports have emerged that there is a fallout between the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC) members and some Councillors and politicians in the City of Tshwane Municipality.

It is alleged that the fallout comes after members of the BAC in the City of Tshwane Municipality stopped doing favours to the said politicians.

These favours were in the form of kickbacks in terms of projects taking place in the City of Tshwane Municipality.

A close source told Tshwane Talks that the fallout started last year and that all along these BAC members and the politicians and Councillors have been getting along very well and were attending parties and functions together and inviting one another to lunches and dinner parties.

“Now all that cosy relationship has changed into bitterness as the BAC members now refuse to enter into negotiations and agreements with politicians regarding the awarding of tenders and projects in the City of Tshwane Municipality,” said the source.

The source insists that these corrupt activities have been happening under the watch of all past mayors.

“Unlike in the past, at the moment BAC members no longer give the said politicians and Councillors any kickbacks and chow all the money alone,” said the source.

“There is now high tension between BAC and the aforementioned Councillors and politicians in the City of Tshwane Municipality.

The said Councillors and politicians are now longing for the kickbacks and are actually begging members of the BAC to involve them in the corrupt activities regarding kickbacks.

“The said politicians and Councillors are struggling at the moment because their high, classy lifestyles have all along been maintained by the kickbacks they have been receiving from BAC,” said the source.

The City of Tshwane Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC) is a critical Supply Chain Management (SCM) structure appointed by the Accounting officer/ city manager, responsible for reviewing recommendations from the Bid Evaluation Committee to award, cancel, or refer bids. It ensures tender processes are transparent, often involving public proceedings for significant or unsolicited bids.

Key aspects of the City of Tshwane BAC include:

1.Function: Reviews recommendations from the Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) to make final awards or recommendations to the Accounting Officer.

2.Structure: The Accounting Officer appoints members, typically from various departments, to ensure fair and compliant adjudication.

3.Transparency: BAC meetings and evaluations regarding tender awards are required to be transparent, with some sessions open to the public.

4.Process: The committee checks for compliance with SCM policies, including verification of Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration, tax compliance (SARS pin), and local content requirements.

5.Unsolicited Bids: The BAC considers unsolicited bids, which must be made public if deemed valid, particularly if they offer unique, innovative, or cost-effective solutions.

City of Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC) functions as a duly constituted collective structure of Council and is not a one-person decision-making body.

“Its decisions and recommendations are made through a committee process, based on collective deliberation and in accordance with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), Supply Chain Management regulations and the City’s approved SCM policy framework,” said Mashigo.

Mashigo said the City further emphasises that any form of kickbacks, inducements or personal benefit linked to procurement processes is unlawful and constitutes corruption.

Such conduct is strictly prohibited, and where allegations arise, they are subject to investigation and appropriate consequence management in line with applicable legislation and the City’s governance and anti-corruption frameworks.