Gov’t Erroneously Pays Close To a Million to Road Project Consultant

• Documents show government was billed for staff who either resigned or were not approved for a tender • Consultant say s they had to bring in substitutes to take over The consultancy firm overseeing the Mmankgodi–Tloaneng–Gabane Link Road project is under scrutiny for billing the government nearly a million pula for inactive personnel, including staff who had either resigned or were rejected by the Ministry of Water and Human Settlement.

Director – Department of Technical Services at the ministry, Kaboyamodimo Raitoko , confirmed the overpayments and stated that the firm, Pula Consultants, has been officially notified to reimburse the funds through upcoming payment certificates.

The consultancy firm, awarded the tender to supervise the road linking Mmankgodi and Tloaneng with Gabane bill ed the government for staff who either resigned or were never approved by the ministry.

“T he moment I became aware I straight issued the Consultant with notice as per the contract to recover the amount the due amount ,” Raitoko told this publication adding that t he Consultant is expected to reimburse Government without fail in the next payment certificate since the project is still ongoing.

He explained to this publication that the proposed staff did not meet the requirement of the “ITT” and recommendation for rejection was forwarded to the Ministry for adjudication.

“Meanwhile the Consultant was contractually notified in writing that his proposed staff does not meet the specification and has been forwarded to the Accounting Officer for decision making. While still waiting for response, the Consultant used his proposed replacement staff supported from head office.”

In a letter dated June 13, Raitoko notified Matlhaga that the government had discovered four staff members listed in the firm's invoice — Tax Invoice Certificate No. 12 — who should not have been included.

Among the disputed claims is P520,000 billed for Boitshwarelo Nkile , proposed as a replacement quantity surveyor after the resignation of Agang Oneman Raphapha . However, the ministry had rejected Nkile’s appointment in March 2025, stating that he did not meet contract requirements. Despite this, the consultant continued to bill P130,000 monthly from February to May.

The company also continued to claim for a soils/materials engineer position after being notified in March that the incumbent, Tlhabanelo Mapulane , had resigned effective March 31. Although Pula Consultants proposed Tefo Kgabo as a replacement, the ministry rejected the nomination, citing failure to meet requirements.

Nonetheless, the firm billed P280,000 for Kgabo’s services in April and May, at P140,000 per month.

Raitoko’s letter also highlighted that surveyor David Kealeboga had been missing since March 2025, a fact disclosed by the consultant during a June 2 meeting. Yet, the company billed P79,000 per month for Kealeboga’s services in April, and May — totalling P 158,000 .

“These personnel are resourced through the project under the construction contract, which includes rent, utilities, and other costs,” Raitoko wrote. “Despite the consultant’s non-compliance, the employer continues to incur monthly costs for resourcing these personnel.”

Since this is interim payment, he told this publication that it is always corrected in the next IPC of which the Consultant has been notified accordingly that he need to reimburse the Government accordingly.

“ As part of contract management, immediately I recognise the overpayment , I inform the affected party of my observation and cause him to regularise the anomaly. The matter had not yet reached the level which need escalation because I need to act as per the contract and escalate if the matter is beyond my control. ”

Raitoko concluded by cautioning Pula Consultants that the ministry intends to recover all improperly incurred costs.

For his part, Pula Consultants Director Carthage Matlhaga explained that the employees who previously served in these positions resigned, and the company had to bring in substitutes to take over. However, he said, because their approval has to be sanctioned by the Permanent Secretary, now the procedures have been changed. While he admitted that the company had claimed for the said employees, he said the company has since halted their claims while waiting for their approval.

“Even as we speak, they are there at the project on acting capacity; we cannot afford to let them go because the project has to go on,” he said.

“There is no way I am going to remove those people from the site.” He explained that most of these positions are specialised, with a smaller number of citizens qualified for them.