GOOD Statement by Chantelle Kyd, GOOD George Municipality Councillor:
R105 MILLION ICT DEAL – LEADERSHIP MUST ACCOUNT
The chaos surrounding George Municipality’s billing system is no longer a technical issue. It is political and governance failures.
Residents are facing incorrect accounts, data confusion, and an overwhelmed system, despite R105 million in public funds being spent on an ICT upgrade through a deviation process awarded to Solvern Consulting.
Deviation procurement of this size is extraordinary. It bypasses open competition and is intended for use only in truly exceptional circumstances. When it involves R105 million, the public is entitled to clear answers not reassurances.
The key question is simple and unavoidable: How does R105 million result in a billing system that is unfit for purpose?
Attempts to frame this crisis as a “short-term disruption” underestimate the scale of the problem and the anger of residents who are being financially and emotionally impacted. At this level of expenditure, failure cannot be explained away. It must be accounted for.
This matter now sits squarely with political and administrative leadership.
The Mayor and Municipal Manager are now duty-bound to step forward. R105 million was authorised under their political and administrative watch. If they cannot explain how this money produced a system that is unfit for purpose, then they must explain why they should retain public trust.
GOOD is therefore demanding:
- Full public disclosure of the R105 million deviation, including the motivation, contract, deliverables, and payments
- A clear explanation of what testing was done before the system was rolled out
- Accountability for why residents are paying the price for a failed implementation
Should these answers not be forthcoming, GOOD will escalate the matter to the Public Protector, request a forensic investigation by the Auditor-General, and pursue criminal processes if evidence points to unlawful conduct or gross negligence.
This is not about software. It is about how public money is spent and who is held accountable when it fails.
R105 million was spent. The system is unfit for purpose. Leadership must answer.
The public deserves to know why normal procurement was bypassed and what exactly taxpayers received in return. The contract, deliverables, and payment details must be made public.
GOOD Manifesto on Social Welfare: Supporting social welfare programs for vulnerable communities.
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