This, as the two companies were awarded a R255 million tender to assess, audit and remove asbestos roofs without having accreditation to handle asbestos material. 

Testifying before the State Capture Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday, Sodi admitted that they should have disclosed that they could only outsource the second phase of the deal, which entailed the actual removal and disposal of asbestos roofs. He, however, maintained that they did not need accreditation to quantify and audit asbestos houses in the province.

OFM News last month reported that asbestos expert, Jacobus Roets, testified that the cost of the project charged by Sodi's company was "exorbitantly high".

During his testimony, he told the commission the report prepared by Blackhead Consulting and Diamond Hill Trading joint venture for the assessment, audit, and eradication of asbestos roofs in the province was ineffective. He said the two companies failed to give a clear indication of how much asbestos there was per house or unit, nor the extent of the risk it posed to the occupants of the houses.

Sodi further told the committee that he was not aware of the Auditor-General's report declaring the procurement irregular in 2015.

Hearings will continue on Thursday.

OFM News