The Free State provincial government spent R140 million on its website, it was reported on Monday.<\/p>\n
Free State director general Elzabe Rockman signed a three-year contract to redesign the website in 2011, the Sowetan newspaper reported.<\/p>\n
She had reportedly disputed the amount, claiming it was actually R40m.<\/p>\n
The agreement was signed with businessman Tumi Ntsele, who reportedly holds tenders with several other provincial departments.<\/p>\n
The Sowetan reported that the company was awarded the tender even though two other companies submitted significantly lower bids.<\/p>\n
Etionee Bruwer, owner of web development company Jam Factory, told the newspaper the amount charged for the website was “ridiculous”.<\/p>\n
“The company that is working on that site is probably making R3.5m profit a month,” he said.<\/p>\n
Bruwer said the most paid for a website was R12m, by financial institutions which needed to protect sensitive information.<\/p>\n
Ntsele told the newspaper opposition parties had an agenda against black businessmen and that the website’s cost was fair.<\/p>\n
The strange choice of communications ministers<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Pule acted unlawfully on TV-signal deal: report<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n