East London - The Eastern Cape Transport Department says it had no choice but to deviate from normal procurement processes when recently awarding a scholar transport contract.
Defending the department's decision, acting HOD Linda Salie said the urgent need to get the scholar transport programme up and running again necessitated bypassing standard procurement protocol.
"The department had to find the best and the quickest mode of sourcing services so as not to jeopardise our learners' futures. The department is obliged to follow a competitive bidding process, unless there are compelling reasons which may dictate otherwise," said Salie on Monday.
He said the department didn't have the capacity to run the scholar transport programme, which is why the Eastern Cape Bus and Taxi Business Chamber (ECBTBC) and other non-ECBTBC transport operators were appointed by the department.
He added that the programme was originally run by the Education Department, who funded and managed the programme until the end of March. Discussions between the two departments only began in April following the allocation of funds for the new financial year.
"A successful scholar transport programme requires extensive planning and setting up of systems and structures for effective management and monitoring. This involves data collection and verification, identification of schools and routes and the determination of modes of transport for each route," said Salie.
With limited time and no capacity in the department, Salie said there was no choice but appoint ECBTBC for 18 months.
"The department had to find ways of ensuring that the learners who are in dire need of the scholar transport were transported," said Salie.
