Bhisho High Court to rule in school furniture tender dispute

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 The Bhisho High Court is expected to hand down judgment on Friday in a school furniture tender dispute.

A supplier is challenging the legality of the provincial education department’s R30-million furniture purchase.

This after the department sought to fast track the procurement of school furniture in order to comply with a court granted by the Mthatha High Court last November, directing the department to deliver furniture before 30 June 2013.

But, Rickshaw Trade and Invest 49 has asked the High Court to interdict any further sale or delivery of school furniture by five other suppliers, arguing that the tender process was irregular.

The Grahamstown-based Legal Resources Centre, which usually fights the Department of Education, has taken its side in the matter.

The LRC says while it does not condone illegal or irregular tender procedures, it wants to ensure that the best interests of the children are put at the forefront of the dispute.

The LRC says it hopes that any decision taken by the court does not negatively impact on the constitutional right to basic education.