SAPS in R1.6bn PPE mess
THE SAPS irregularly awarded personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts worth R1.6 billion by concluding them on “verbal authorisation” and without the requisite number of quotations.
It also paid inflated prices, awarded contracts worth R86 million to companies which were not tax compliant and ordered sterile surgical gloves “only meant for the Department of Health”.
This is according to a draft audit report compiled by the SAPS’ supply chain management division last month and seen by the Sunday Independent. It shows that the police force “wrongfully awarded” a R95m contract to Emergency Response Equipment and “unfairly disqualified” the lowest bidder, Tekenberg, which had quoted R91.5m to supply multiple goods.
The draft audit report found that the
