This is according to the Director of ORI Group, Abel Kgotso Manyike, who testified before the State Capture Commission of Inquiry regarding the controversial asbestos project in the Free State. Manyike told the commission today that in his role to audit and assess asbestos roofs in the province, they used aerial photographs and sent trained field workers to assess the structure and integrity of the houses.

His testimony comes just days after the R255 million project raised eyebrows earlier this week, when registered asbestos expert, Jacobus Roets, testified that the cost of the project was exorbitantly high.

OFM News earlier reported that Roets, during his testimony, told the commission the reports prepared for the assessment, audit and eradication of asbestos roofs in the province was ineffective. He said the companies contracted by Blackhead Consulting and Diamond Hill Trading joint-venture failed to give a clear indication of how much asbestos there was per house or unit nor the extend of the risk it posed to the occupants of the houses.

Roets told the commission the reports were "not of much use for such a big project" as it lacked basic details such as how many houses were involved, how long the project was going to take, nor the equipment that was going to be used for the assessment and removal of the asbestos material.

Roets who has over two decades of experience in the field, told Zondo during his testimony said his estimates are that the project would have cost approximately R20 to R30 million. "Although a reassessment will need to be made, the cost is definitely less than R255 million," he said.

Manyike who confirmed to have been the author of most reports, told the commission he executed what was agreed upon and was reporting to Blackhead joint-venture and Master trade throughout the project.

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane, has in her investigative report found the Free State Human Settlements Department guilty of improper conduct involving this asbestos housing contract awarded to the two Gauteng-based companies.

She outlined that the provincial department participated in an expired contract of the Gauteng Human Settlements Department, and failed to conduct a due diligence investigation before participating in this contract. She said the province was in possession of the Gauteng Department's Service Legal Agreement, which had expired, and went ahead to pay the service provider an amount millions despite the Auditor-General having declared the procurement as irregular as early as July 31 in 2015. She is her report indicated that the service provider had subcontracted the contract at a fee of just over R21 million, while the service provider walked away with more than R230 million.

The commission continues to hear how the Free State Human Settlements Departments got to cough out millions without much to show for it.

OFM News