Mr Speaker, I have now clearly heard the question. I think, hon member, that's precisely the reason that we are doing a review. We want to deal with those kinds of problems. We are not saying that because we are starting a review, everything must come to a standstill. These SOEs have been working and they are continuing to work. We are going to be reviewing them as we proceed with everything else. We can't stop business because we are doing a review.
It is the review and recommendations that are going to help us to deal with such issues; if those are indeed existent problems. We can't pre-empt the very task we are giving to those who must do the review. We want recommendations.
There has been a lot of debate about such issues in the past. We are just saying that we must bring closure to that and, therefore, we must do a review. In the end, we will be able to take the kinds of decisions that will satisfy all of us in terms of the manner in which the SOEs are operating. Thank you.
Query regarding awarding of building projects to a certain company and steps to ensure transparency of tender process
3. Ms A Mda (Cope) asked the President of the Republic:
(1) Whether, in view of problems surrounding service delivery by local government, he has called for an investigation into allegations that several municipalities in Limpopo province awarded contracts exceeding R140 million to a certain company (name furnished); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether he has been informed that building projects awarded to the said company by the province and certain local governments of Limpopo were not completed or collapsed; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether he will instruct the Interministerial Committee on Corruption to take urgent steps to ensure transparency of the tender process so that communities can know who applied for a tender, who had been appointed and why the tender was awarded to a specific company; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NO720E