Highest bid gets contract

SANRAL: TOP SCORER APPOINTED 'ACCORDING TO PRICE AND B-BBEE POINTS'

- Roy Cokayne Moneyweb

The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) awarded a multibillion-rand national road upgrade contract to the Chinese-led Unik-Diphatse joint venture (JV) despite its bid being the highest of seven received.

In addition, a Sanral internal audit proactive assurance report seen by Moneyweb revealed that material risks or concerns were identified for JV partner Unik Construction Engineering Incorporated in Botswana.

The report refers to an article published by Ink Journalism on 21 December 2021 titled How black-listed Unik Construction gobbled P268 million from the treasury and said Unik Construction was blacklisted for defrauding the Botswana government and the World Bank in a road construction tender funded by the bank.

It states the African Development Bank Group on 13 October 2023 announced the conclusion of a negotiated settlement agreement with Unik Construction Engineering (Pty) Ltd, thereby putting an end to sanctions proceedings for a corrupt practice.

‘No longer blacklisted’

The report refers to Sanral management comments noting that Unik Construction Engineering was blacklisted in Botswana for two years (4 October 2013 to 3 October 2015) and that the tender closed in February 2023 when it was no longer blacklisted.

The report also refers to corrupt practice in the Manzini Region water supply and sanitation project in Eswatini, with a second article indicating African Development Bank Group put an end to the sanction proceedings against Unik Construction Engineering on 13 October 2023 with a condition of non-debarment for a period of 12 months, effective 11 October 2023.