Athlone power station deal going to court

Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille is going to court to set aside the Athlone power station contract, it was reported.

The Cape Times reported that she had earlier said this tender was clear of fraud or corruption.

She told the city council on Wednesday that even though an "independent and well-known firm of investigators revealed no evidence of either fraud or corruption", the Western Cape High Court must decide on the "validity" of the contract with Aurecon.

De Lille said she had decided to have the tender process reviewed after careful consideration of all the relevant facts and circumstances, together with the legal advice she had received.

According to the report, the ANC had been critical of the R9.7 million contract awarded for the decommissioning of the Athlone power station since late last year.

It alleged that the tender process was irregular, unfair and anti-competitive.

Disciplinary action was underway against the officials involved in the awarding of the tender.