Transnet chief executive Siyabonga Gama has launched a court application to set aside a decision to award a R2.5 billion tender to information technology firm T-Systems, which has alleged links to the controversial Gupta family.<\/p>\n
This is according to an article in the City Press, which also reported that the preferred bidder for the contract, Gijima called for a criminal investigation into the tender.<\/p>\n
Gama\u2019s affidavit, filed in the Pretoria High Court last month noted how the state company\u2019s acquisition and disposal committee (ADC) went against Transnet\u2019s management, and National Treasury advice, by appointing T-Systems with the five-year IT data services tender on February 22.<\/p>\n
Gijima Holdings is reported to have scored the highest points in the tender process. The company’s chief operating officer, Maphum Nxumalo, said: \u201cIt is astounding that the board of Transnet decided to ignore the evaluation team\u2019s results and management\u2019s recommendation.”<\/p>\n
\u201cThe team resolved that the risks identified were too material for the tender to be awarded to Gijima,\u201d Gama’s papers said.<\/p>\n
City Press reported that T-Systems has been providing IT services to Transnet for seven years, at approximately R500 million a year.<\/p>\n
It said that T-Systems\u2019 link to the Guptas is through a data services contract that was passed over to Zestilor, after inheriting it through its purchase of Arivia.com in 2009.<\/p>\n
“The cession contract \u2013 approved and signed by erstwhile Transnet CEO Brian Molefe on December 1 2014 \u2013 benefited Zestilor. Zestilor was owned by Zeenat Osmany, the wife of Gupta associate Salim Essa, it said.<\/p>\n
Gama wants the tender to be reviewed and set aside by ruling Transnet’s action \u201cinvalid and unlawful\u201d.<\/p>\n
T-Systems filed a notice of its intention to oppose Gama\u2019s application, while a spokesperson told City Press that it had received written questions but did not respond.<\/p>\n