Women’s Month Bonanza: AGSA looks away as FoE spent over R10 million on three events

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The Department of Education in Free State has spent R10 769 241,44 on three events in August 2023.

This revelation comes after we sent questions to the Department’s spokesperson Howard Ndaba, he played ignorant by asking which events and failed to answer what the Return On Investment on these events was.

He did however say the events were core business of the department.

“The core business of the department is learning and teaching. Located within the Communication Directorate, event management is a strategic communication and stakeholder engagement tool.

The department uses events to engage with both internal and external public and communicate the message of the department.”

Last year the department held three events in Xhariep on the 19th of August, Lejweleputswa on the 25th of August, and Fezile Dabi on the 31st of August 2023.

In a parliamentary question by Democratic Alliance (DA) leader in Free State, Roy Jankielsohn, to MEC of Education, Makalo Mohale unlike us, the MEC was forced to answer the same questions we asked.

The total cost of these three events is R10 769 241,44 broken as follows:

In Xhariep the event was held at Ipetleng Secondary School and the department decided to hire a marquee.

• Marquee with chairs R787 370.50
• Event Promoter for Media R683 000.00
• Transport and Catering R940 269.94
• Hygiene Packages for learners R585 200.00
• Outside Broadcast Lesedi FM R287 500.00
• Total: R3 283 340, 44
  This was for 1300 people, yes 1300.

In Fezile Dabi, the event was held at Phirihadi Primary School, Heilbron.

• Marquee and décor R881 070.00
• Event Promoter for Media R920 300.00
• Transport and Catering R916 835.00
• Hygiene Packages for learners R734 968.00
• Outside Broadcast Lesedi FM R287 500.00
• Total: R3 740 673.
  This was for 1700 people.

The last event was at Ntuthuzelo Primary School in Builtfotein and again, for a marquee and décor the department paid R890 460.00

• Marquee and Décor R890 460.00
• Event Promoter for Media R905 659.00
• Transport and Catering R908 855.00
• Hygiene Packages for learners R752 754.00
• Outside Broadcast Lesedi FM R287 500.00
• Total: R3 745 228.00
• Again this was for 1700 people.

While the purpose of these events according to the department was to celebrate Women’s Month with young female learners in high schools, on different career paths, out of the three schools two were primary schools, make this make sense.

Another crack is in the procurement of these events, much as the department is adamant that they received bids, they do not provide bid numbers and no clear explanation why the invoices were split i.e. there were about 5 service providers per event.

None of the invoices is above R1 million which raises another suspicion of planned looting.

Where are prizes inflated on purpose and/or does Education need these events?

What’s interesting is on the 18th of August 2023, the department held teachers’ awards at the cost of R177 000 for 280 people at Marematlou Training Institute and the school halls could not be used as the event took place during the school day.

Just a few months earlier, during the school day, the department launched a breakfast event and beautification on the 25 May and 2-15 June at Sechaba Se Maketse Combined and Relebeletse Primary School respectively, both events were held in school halls.

There is a huge difference betteen BIDS and RFQs, for these amounts, open tenders should have been the order of the day as the threshold is R1 million per event not itemised billing.

We will publish all companies that responded to the bids and how much each company billed.

If you think construction mafia is the danger to public purse, wait till we unbundle events companies on Free State.

We did send a list of questions to the Auditor General of South Africa for about 8 departments and miraculously, they did not respond to questions about Education.

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