What have you done today (to make you feel proud)

Thursday 14th February, Valentines Night and even more candles than usual will be lit in the evening for a variety of reasons. With “lighting” in the public eye we ask questions relating to racing’s own lighting saga – The Illumination of Turffontein.

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As the vast majority of people are aware, the unpopular decision to cease racing at Gauteng’s top track and night racing venue, Newmarket, was made by serial track closers Phumelela Gaming and Leisure and backed by an accommodating Racing Association.

In a Phumelela statement carried by the majority of the SA race media, plans to illuminate Turffontein were announced to compensate for the loss of night racing at Newmarket. As is the norm, this whole process was bungled by Phumelela and the illumination of Turffontein is still in doubt pending the outcome of an appeal concerning the environmental impact of this work.

We do not wish to comment on the environmental matters, we will however focus on the award of the tender, question whether it was in the best interests of racing stakeholders and call on Phumelela and also independently, the RA, to provide clarification on this matter.

The original specification for the tender to illuminate Turffontein was put out by
Africon. Africon was appointed by Phumelela, Mr P. Burger of Africon was Project Manager we understand Mr. Hawkins was the Phumelela project representative.

In response to the original tender document, quotes were submitted individually by four companies.

The most expensive quote was in the region of R38 million.

The cheapest quote submitted was just over R11 million.

There was a change to the specification and all were invited to quote again. This time the highest quote was approx R36 million. The cheapest was in the region of R13.5 million.

The contract was awarded to a consortium comprising the three highest quotes Bekkers Lighting, WSP and Lighting Innovations at between R35M and R36M.

The company submitting the cheapest tender D. Warren Associates missed out completely.

Perhaps the saying “you get what you pay for” comes into consideration and experience in this specialist field must also be taken into consideration. Fair comment?

Well from investigations it appears that at the time of the tender those who consisted of the consortium had no experience in sports venue lighting whilst the cheapest bidder had illuminated Newmarket.

It needs to be asked to and answered by Phumelela and the RA who backed the decision;

Why was there such a discrepancy in the pricing?
Why was the cheapest and most experienced tenderor left out of the consortium?
Why was the tender given to a consortium when only individual companies tendered?

It also allegedly needs to be asked of Mr Burger of Africon – G’day mate hows Oz…???

If the lights dont go up at turfies. Do they still have to pay the contractors.

Is this 36 Mil or so after they have used the Newmarket lights or are they fitting new lights and discarding the newmarket lights???

Surely cheaper for P just not to have night racing. Just give me more divs.

Imagine having night racing with Escom in the picture.

They probably need a million rand generator as well.

One flaw they should have moth balled turfies and only kept as a training centre. Turned it into a drug rehab centre or such.

Moved the whole operation to Newmarket.

I wish I could answer your questions Sly.

I also wish others had the balls to comment but these are the days we live in and we should not be to harsh, should we...?

Tie my kangaroo down sport, tie my kangoroo down

The sad thing is that when these questions are asked, the regime keeps mum, our RA Board dont want to rock the boat, and the attitude is, "dont hassle about it, its just those stirrers at ABC, it will blow over !"

Then when 1 or 2 non-apathethic souls start asking pertinent questions about dubious appointments, decisions, actions, a few moles like longbeard are sent in to 'divide and rule', and in no time ABC gets posters asking why do we go on and on about these 'boring' issues. "Its ok, so what if the rules are bent or broken, its SA after all" !

In the meantime our racing industry is being bled, our assets plundered, as the juggernaut rolls onwards toward the last bastion, Gold Circle.

is this part of the legal challenge cuckoo? your challenge is timing out son

As mentioned in a previous post, AP, wont be revealing much as to the specifics of the legal challenge, but rest assured its on track.
As you know our judiciary has a back-log.

Fair enough cuckoo