North West bus company says MEC ignored affordable bid

Contract awarded to JV before bid's closing date

- By Setumo Stone

A Johannesburg-based bus company owner has taken North West Transport MEC Wessels Morweng and his department officials to the Mahikeng High Court to interdict the award of a lucrative contract to a more expensive competitor, after his own cheaper bid with a superior service rating was passed over.

Mohamed Essop's Sizanani Mazulu Transport secured a place on the panel of four approved service providers to transport the province's citizens. However, the company discovered that despite being ranked as the top bidder with the lowest price of R22 per kilometre, the department awarded the most profitable routes exclusively to Ikhwezi and Tasmica, a joint venture that had submitted a significantly higher bid of R39 per kilometre.