Row over release of Somerset Hospital bidders'names.(News)

BYLINE: AZIZ HARTLEY

THE Somerset Hospital precinct's development remains dogged by controversy as the provincial Transport and Public Works Department has turned down a standing committee's request for it to be given names of bidders for the project.

The province's economic development watchdog had asked the department for the bidding companies' details which included names of the directors, but department head Thami Manyathi said it had an agreement with bidders that their names would not be made public.

The department was prepared to brief the committee behind closed doors and divulge the names on condition committee members kept them to themselves, he said in a letter to them.

"During briefing sessions of registered bidders, they specifically requested that their names and contact details not be divulged to other parties," Manyathi's letter read.

Committee member Robin Carlisle of the DA said "they have no right to give that undertaking. I trust the committee will also reject this and continue to demand names be released. Development has to be via a Public Private Partnership (PPP) because the province remains the landlord."

The issue became a hot potato when Transport and Public Works MEC Marius Fransman accused treasury officials of racism after they recommended the PPP process. He said a provincial executive decision had been made for a 33% broad based black economic empowerment component.

Fransman's spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, said: "The committee has not taken up our offer (of a closed session) and this makes us wonder why. We suspect certain individuals are making mischief, but we are not going to entertain that mischief."

Row over release of Somerset Hospital bidders'names.(News)

BYLINE: AZIZ HARTLEY

THE Somerset Hospital precinct's development remains dogged by controversy as the provincial Transport and Public Works Department has turned down a standing committee's request for it to be given names of bidders for the project.

The province's economic development watchdog had asked the department for the bidding companies' details which included names of the directors, but department head Thami Manyathi said it had an agreement with bidders that their names would not be made public.

The department was prepared to brief the committee behind closed doors and divulge the names on condition committee members kept them to …