Bay tender queries over democracy celebrations

ABOUT R1.4-million set aside by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality for the 20 Years of Freedom celebrations was spent on posters, flyers and radio advertisements to commemorate the democratic milestone.

Despite a condition by the council that the service providers for the celebratory events be appointed through the city’s supply chain management (SCM) processes, the contract was not awarded through a tender process.

Instead, the metro used an existing marketing contract with Erastyle, trading as Stratcomm – and owned by Bay businessman and suspected ANC funder Fareed Fakir – for the 20 years of democracy branding.

Fakir had a R6-million contract with the metro to do marketing and communications for the beleaguered bus system. The Herald revealed earlier this week that three of Fakir’s companies benefited from at least R28.5-million from the municipality between July last year and June on Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS)-related work.