Public protector calls for awarding of construction contracts on merit

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, has called on government to ensure that construction contracts are awarded on the basis of merit, with a view to saving state resources.

Speaking during a stakeholder consultative dialogue in Bloemfontein, Madonsela said the country was facing a "huge battle" with respect to shoddily built RDP houses.

Her remarks followed allegations that the Free State provincial government was awarding tenders on the basis of political allegiance.

Other complaints were that officials were being suspended for refusing to follow instructions that contracts be awarded unlawfully.