Crumbling town picked R69.7-million software contract over better tender for half the price

The Merafong City Local Municipality's R69.7 million software contract has raised eyebrows, with Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) demanding answers over the awarding process. The municipality's own Bid Evaluation Committee recommended a different bidder, but the contract went to the winning bidder, sparking questions about the decision-making process. The municipality's crippling debt, including R1.4 billion owed to Rand Water and R1.6 billion to Eskom, has led many to wonder if the contract was a necessary expense or a misguided priority.