Zamdela local businesses which included stakeholders from security companies, military veterans and youth representatives last Friday staged a protest outside the Metsimaholo Local Municipality building aggrieved with what they called deliberate exclusion from the municipality’s procurement processes.
They allege that despite them meeting criterion for most of the tenders advertised they are being sidelined and denied opportunities to do business with the municipality.
Friday demonstration was sparked by the recent appointment of a security company by the municipality. The action followed the letter of demand for the replacement of the security company sent to the municipality on the 4th January 2023.
Speaking on behalf of the Military Vetarans , Salman Letlatsa said these issues started with previous administrations of the municipality and it still continues. “We want people of this municipality and businesses to be the first to be prioritized instead of companies from outside this municipality, our people knowns the municipality and are well placed to serve the municipality. We have engaged the municipality with these issues,” he said.
Community Leader Mr Tladinyana Kgodumo said the Executive Mayor and the Municipal Manager must address the issue of the appointment of the security company in the municipality. “Both the Mayor and the Municipal Manager are the leaders of the municipality and must deal with the issue of the irregular appointment of the security company, we are prepared to take this matter to court because we know we are right,” he said.
Metsimaholo Stakeholders Forum’s Khulu Radebe said no deliberate attempt seems to be done to assist local businesses by the municipality. “These issues affect local people, expectations where that insourcing of some security workers in the municipality should have been completed by now. No programs and follow up on issues like Local Economic Development that will assist local people and businesses who must be the first to benefit when business opportunity are available,” he said.
The municipality has confirmed that it received a letter of demand for the immediate replacement of the appointed security company in question. “The municipality wants to indicate that of all tenders received only one is a main contractor from Metsimaholo and the other one a subcontractor from Metsimaholo. However as a municipality we are bound to the procurement processes as per the law and regulations,” said the municipality spokesperson, Dr Gino Alberts.
Alberts added that the municipality is committed to see to it that the security project has an element of local empowerment through the employment of local community.
Meanwhile, the protesters vowed to continue with demonstration until all issues raised are addressed.
