17 Feb 2025

There are 13 projects directly procured from April 2024 to date which have been  facilitated through the use of appropriated funds, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Noah Salakae has said.

Answering a question from Kgalagadi North legislator, Mr Reason Lekhutlane in Parliament, Mr Salakae said there were funds appropriated for agreed projects, whether under financial crises or normal economic state.

The role of the ministry, he said, was to use appropriated funds for agreed projects.

He said direct appointment was one of the procurement methods guided by the Public Procurement Act of 2021 adding there was no specific team assembled to conduct direct appointments.

The accounting officer appointed evaluation teams for any procurement and composition of the team was as guided by the Public Procurement Act, he said.

Minister Salakae also said he was not aware that the cost of the directly procured projects had been ballooned unnecessarily but would work on the perceptions.

He  clarified that he had not made any direct appointment, but ratified four projects being construction of New-Xade junction to New-Xade Road (110km) and associate works.

Others works are the  infrared pothole patching of Mosaditshwene, Artesia road, construction of Radisele to Pilikwe road and work contract for the procurement of Asphalt Overlay and road marking of Morwamosu-Motokwe road.

Mr Lekhutlane had asked the minister to state the number of projects which were and are subjected to direct contract, to state the project name, value, number, companies and company owners and when the projects contract were signed.

He also wanted to know whether the minister was aware, the cost of direct appointments had been ballooned unnecessarily and if he would continue to sign direct appointment contracts despite financial crises government faced.

He also wanted to know composition of teams that do the direct appointment contracts and the evaluation teams. ENDS