Regional Council accused of tender irregularities

THE Office of the Ombudsman in Oshakati has launched an investigation into an alleged irregularity with tender allocations at the Kunene Regional Council (KRC).

A staff member at the Office of the Ombudsman in Oshakati confirmed to the Daily Sun that a letter of enquiry has been sent to the KRC. According to Willem Geurtse of the MW Motor Centre in Oshakati, his company together with two others, Pupkewitz Toyota Oshakati and Super Vehicle Sales Windhoek, applied to tender for the supply of six new vehicles to the Council. The tender, KRT/011/2010, was sent out by the KRC last year. None of the three applicants has received any feedback from the KRC thus far, complained Geurtse.

Gerrit Niewoudt of Pupkewitz Toyota, Oshakati also confirmed to the Daily Sun that he had not received any feedback from the KRC and he said that he could not get hold of anyone to give him the correct information when he tried contacting the Council. In the presence of other witnesses, Geurtse attended the tender opening by the Chief Control Officer at the KRC, Lourens //Hoeseb, he said. When questioned about the matter afterwards, the KRC seemed evasive according to Geurtse. When contacted for comment, //Hoeseb told the Daily Sun that he cannot react to the allegation and that he had not spoken to the applicants.

The Chief Regional Officer at the KRC, George Kamseb, told the Daily Sun that he could not comment and is awaiting further investigation from the Office of the Ombudsman. Geurtse alleges that the KRC bought the vehicles from other companies that did not apply for the tender, viz. Ritters Toyota, Novel Ford and Namibia Motors, adding that he received a tip-off from a reliable source in Opuwo.

“KRC bought an Isuzu bakkie from Namibia Motors, a Toyota Hilux from Ritters Toyota and another vehicle from Novel Ford”, he said. He added that the specifications for the tender stated the need for two double cab bakkies, one club cab bakkie, one single cab 4x4 bakkie, one sedan and one panel van. WM Motor Centre’s tender amounted to 959 695, Pupkewitz Toyota Oshakati amounted to 1,448 475 and Super Vehicle Sales Windhoek amounted to 1,365 009 said Geurtse.

Geurtse sent a letter to the Ombudsman in Oshakati on 17 February and is awaiting feedback.

click to enlarge Willem Geurtse of MW Motor Centre in Oshakati. © Photo: contributed