Lesufi announces plan to end 'corrupt' tender system with new Nasi Ispani phase

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced a new phase of his Nasi Ispani programme, which will end the province's reliance on the often 'corrupt' tendering system.

Lesufi said his province will be the first to move away from the tendering system, with plans to train young people in various technical skills, including welding, painting, and bricklaying.

Speaking during the Provincial Women’s Day celebration at the Union Buildings in the City of Tshwane on Saturday, Lesufi said the province is introducing a new approach to ensure young people benefit from infrastructure development and service delivery.

"I am the one who is in charge right now. We cannot allow things to go the way we want them. We are introducing the next phase of Nasi Ispani. This round of Nasi Ispani is completely different. This round of Nasi Ispani goes to the heart of our problems.  In this second round of Nasi Ispani, we have spoken to all our technical schools, we have spoken to all our TVET colleges and we have spoken to all our universities," Lesufi stated. 

The Premier indicated that his government is willing to fund the training of young people who want to take up opportunities created by his government to minimise the negative impact the tendering system has had on service delivery and sustainable job creation.

"When schools close, when universities close, when TVET colleges close, we want everyone to go to university, and I will pay them to be taught. I will pay them to be bricklayers. I will pay for them to be painters. I will pay for them to be welders, and when they graduate, the government will no longer go on a tender for a painter. The government will no longer go on a tender for a bricklayer and for government to build RDP houses," he said.

Lesufi's address comes days after he appointed Roche Mogorosi as the acting Head of Department for Community Safety, following the suspension of both the department’s Head of Department and Chief Financial Officer, following a series of suspensions in some of the provincial departments.

These suspensions follow the conclusion of a forensic investigation by the Provincial Forensic Audit Unit within the Office of the Premier, which uncovered financial irregularities in the department.

The public safety case is part of the 39 forensic investigation reports that the Premier made publicly available last Sunday, with Lesufi indicating that his intervention was prompted by a need to safeguard the department's integrity.

“The provincial government is committed to restoring public trust by upholding the highest standards of integrity. We maintain a zero-tolerance stance against corruption and misconduct. Through proactive and corrective measures, we will strengthen governance, ensure the ethical and responsible use of public funds, and safeguard the interests of Gauteng residents,” said Lesufi.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za