THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
(WESTERN CAPE DIVISION , CAPE TOWN)
In the matter between: Before the Hon. Justice Slingers
Hearing: 20 February 2025
Judgment Delivered: 5 March 2025
MPUZI BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CC
and
ESKOM HOLDINGS SOC LTD
BAZILOR (PTY) LTD
HOUSE OF NNY ANE (PTY) LTD
JTB GROUP (PTY) LTD
KOTANIPROJECTS(PTY)LTD
SANDRA CORPORATIO N (PTY) LTD
TINCOL GROUP (PTY) LTD
WASTECHINVESTMENTS(PTY)LTD Case No: 19716/2024
Applicant
First Respondent
Second Respondent
Third Respondent
Fourth Respondent
Fifth Respondent
Sixth Respondent
Seventh Respondent
Eighth Respondent
This judgment is handed down electronically by circulation to the parties' legal representat ives' email
addresses. The date of hand-down is deemed to be 5 March 2025.
JUDGMENT
SLINGERS J
Introduction
(I] During May 2024 the first respondent published an invitation to tender for the
provision of vegetation management services on its western grid lines in respect
of tender number WCTX 1098SL ('the tender'). The invitation for tender was
part of the first respondent's vegetation management plan which it strives to do
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as economically as possible and without causing unnecessary environmental
damage and without impacting on the rights and requirements of the landowner
and other interested and affected parties. The tender was for a period of 5 years
on a 'as and when required' basis.
[2] The applicant submitted a bid in respect of the invitation to tender but was
informed that it was unsuccessful and that the tender had been awarded to other
bidders.
[3] In this application , the applicant seeks the following substantive relief:
(a) the review and setting aside of the first respondent 's decision taken on or
about 20 April 2024 to award tender number WCTX 1098SL ('the tender') to
the second to eighth respondents ('the successful tenderers') and not to
include the applicant amongst the successful tenderers; and
(b) substituting the first respondent's decision with a decision including the
applicant amongst the successful tenderers, alternatively, remitting the
applicant's bid in respect of the tender to the first respondent for
reconsideration.
[4] During the hearing of the matter, advocate Quixley for the applicant informed the
court that it no longer sought substitution of the first respondent's decision and
that it would seek remission of the tender for reconsiderat ion, if successful.
[5] The applicant relies on two principal grounds for the relief it seeks. Firstly, it
avers that the first respondent deviated from the prescribed procedure set out in
the invitation for tender. This rendered the decision awarding the tender irregular
and procedurally flawed. Secondly, it appears from the technical evaluation
report that bidder 44 failed to submit mandatory documentation pertaining to first
aid and firefighting . This failure should have rendered bidder 44's bid non-
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responsive resulting in disqualification. However, instead of being disqualified,
bidder 44 was awarded the maximum score of 200 points. This was irrational
and compromised the legitimacy of the tender award.
[6] The application was only opposed by the first respondent whose answering
affidavit was deposed to by Ayanda Gcotyelwa Velani ('Velani') who is employed
as a procurement manager for the Western Cape.1 Velani signed off on the
invitation to tender.
[7] In awarding the tender, the first respondent followed a three-stage process.
Stage one tested for responsiveness . In the event that a bidder does not submit
the mandatory documents at tender closing, it would be deemed non-responsive
and disqualified from progressing to the next stage.
[8] Stage two tested compliance with the minimum functionality threshold
requirements. Functionality was evaluated on a total weight of a hundred
percent, with a minimum threshold for vegetation management areas being 86%
for bush and tree clearing and 70% for substation weeding and herbicide. A bid
which failed to meet the minimum threshold for vegetation management would be
disqualified from progressing to the third stage.
[9] Stage three entailed the process of weighted scoring. All bidders were awarded
80 points in respect of price as the bidders were compelled to accept the
mandatory standard rates. Bidders were awarded points out of 20 in respect of
specific goals.
[ I 0] At the end of all three stages the bidders would be ranked from highest to lowest
in accordance with price (which was uniform in this tender) and specific goals. In
the event of a deadlock, the bidder with the highest points for specific goals
1 Yelani is employed by NTCSA who, since I July 2024, is the successor of the first respondent.
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would be awarded the tender. In the event that two or more bidders scored the
same total points in all respects, the tender would be awarded by the drawing of
lots.
[11] The applicant and the first respondent ('the parties') adopted different
interpretations of the phrase 'in all respects' The meaning ascribed to in all
respects is material as it determines eligibility to participate in the deadlock
breaking mechanism of drawing lots. The applicant submits that it includes
functionality , price and specific goals whereas the first respondent submits that it
excludes functionality and only includes price and specific goals.
[12] I turn firstly to the applicant's challenge in respect of bidder 44.
Bidder 44
[13] Sixty bids were received in response to the invitation for tender with twenty-eight
bidders passing the technical evaluation and progressing to the third stage. One
tenderer submitted documentation with the incorrect tender and number and
documentation and was immediately disqualified .
[14] The twenty-eight bidders were shortlisted for potential appointment , with nine
bidders being awarded a total score of 200. Bidder 44 was amongst the nine
bidders who achieved this score and was deemed eligible to participate in the
deadlock breaking mechanism of drawing lots which took place on 16 November
2023.2
[ l 5] The following appear from the technical tender evaluation report:
(i) the bid enquiry was a formal tender document ;
2 This is on the lirst responden t"s interpretat ion of the phrase.
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(ii) there were gatekeeper returnables , i.e., failure to submit gatekeeper
returnables automatically resulted in the tenderer failing;
(iii) the basis of the evaluation was transparent to all suppliers;
(iv) the applicant passed the technical criteria gatekeepers and achieved a
score of 200;
(v) aside from the applicant, 9 other tenderers passed the technical criteria
gatekeepers and achieved a score of 200; and
(vi) it was commented in respect of bidder 44, who obtained a score of 200,
that:
' ... docs found. Supervisors for Substations don't have first aid and fire
fighting on file.'
[16] The invitation to tender prescribes that the bidder's team leader I supervisor
should have training certificates for firefighting and first aid level 1 and 2. It goes
on to state that:
'N. B.: A tenderer that does not submit mandatory documents required above (the
training certificates) and at tender closing as stipulated in the tender returnable
on this ITT will be deemed non-responsive. '
[17] The applicant argues that as bidder 44 failed to submit the mandatory documents
it was irrational to award it the 200 points and that doing so compromised the
legitimacy of awarding the tender.
[18] In responding to the allegations pertaining to bidder 44, the first respondent
explained that:
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(i) the note that 'Supervisors for Substations don't have first aid and
firefighting on file' was recorded by a member of the bid committee;
(ii) the note 'docs found' was a subsequent annotation made;
(iii) the first aid and firefighting documents ('the requisite documents') were
placed in a separate folder and not in the mandatory requirements folder;
(iv) the requisite documents were found as a result of a thorough sweep of
bidder 44's documents; and
(v) the requisite documents were submitted in the Health and Safety folder.
[19] Emile Adams ('Adams'), an adult male who is employed by NTCSA as its
engineer in the high voltage plant department for the Western Cape deposed to a
confirmatory affidavit to Velani. He states:
:3. I have read the affidavit of Ms Ayanda Gcotyelwa Velani, dated 13
December 2024. I confirm the contents thereof in so far as they relate to
me, more particularly paragraphs 33 and 34.
4. More specifically , I confirm that I found the missing supervisor fire-fighting
and first aid certificates in relation to bidder 44. I furthermore was the
person that added the subsequent note "docs found" in the Technical
Tender Evaluation Report. I therefore confirm and corroborate the
contents of paragraph 33 and 34.'
[20] Paragraphs 33 and 34 of the answering affidavit state:
'33. Annexure SA 1 of the applicant's supplementary affidavit is Eskom's
Technical Tender Evaluation Report ("Technical Report'} At page 12 of
the Technical Report an initial note is recorded by a member of the bid
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committee in relation to bidder 44 -the note states that "Supervisors for
Substations don't have first aid and firefighting on file". This note refers to
the necessary first aid and firefighting certificates required for Technical
Mandatory requirements.
34. A subsequent note, above this note, states "docs found". The reason for
this note is that the certificates were placed in a separate folder in the
bidders file and not under the mandatory requirements folder. Only
through a further sweep of bidder 44's bid documents was it discovered
that the documents were submitted in the Health and Safety Folder.
Accordingly , the subsequent note "docs found" was recorded in the
Technical Report.'
[21] It is clear from reading the confirmatory affidavit of Adams together with
paragraphs 33 and 34 of the answering affidavit that:
(a) Adams made the note 'docs found', he did not make the note recording the
absence of the requisite documents ;
(b) a member of the bid committee made the note recording the absence of the
requisite documents ;
(c) neither Adams nor Velani allege that Adams is a member of the bid
committee.
[22] Neither Adams nor Velani explain or address:
(i) why Adams performed a further sweep of bidder 44's documents ;
I
(ii) what role, if any, Adams played in respect of receiving and/or evaluating
the bids received;
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(iii) at what stage of the tender award process Adams performed the further
sweep of bidder 44's documents; and
(iv) whether the further sweep of bidder 44's documents were part of a
process applied uniformly to all bids received.
[23] Therefore, on the papers filed on record the awarding of 200 points to bidder 44
did not occur in a fair or transparent manner and was, therefore, contrary to
section 217(1) of the Constitution. The award of 200 points to bidder 44 was
procedurally irregular, irrational and compromised the legitimacy of the tender
award process.
[24] The award of the tender stands to be reviewed and set aside on this ground
alone.
(25] I turn now to the interpretation of the phrase in all respects.
Interpreting the phrase 'in all respects'
[26] Section 217 of the Constitution is the starting point in this interpretative exercise
as it sets out the minimum requirements for a valid tender process and for
contracts concluded following an award of a tender to a successful bidder.3
Section 217 is headed 'Procurement ' and provides that:
'(1) When an organ of state in the national, provincial or local sphere of
government, or any other institution identified in national legislation,
contracts for goods or services, it must do so in accordance with a system
which is fair, equitable, transparent , competitive and cost-effective.
3 Mil/enium Waste Management (Pty) Ltd v Chairperson of the Tender Board Limpopo Province and Others 2008
(2) SA 481 (SCA)
9
(2) Subsection (1) does not prevent the organs or state or institutions referred to
in that subsection from implementing a procurement policy providing for -
(a) categories of preference in the allocation of contracts; and
(b) the protection or advancement of persons, or categories of persons,
disadvantaged by unfair discrimination.
(3) National legislation must prescribe a framework within the policy referred to
in subsection (2) must be implemented.
[27] This was recognised in Minister of Finance v Afribusiness NPC4 where the court
held:
'As stated above, it is a settled principle of our law that legislation must be read
in a manner that is consistent with the Constitution. This means that s2 of the
Procurement Act, and indeed the entire Act, must be read with s 217, especially
because they share a constitutional bond envisaged ins 217(3). '
(28] The applicable interpretative principles were summarised in Capitec Bank
Holdings Limited and Another v Coral Lagoon Investment 194 (Pty) Ltd and
Others5 with the court stating:
'It is the language used, understood in the context in which it is used, and having
regard to the purpose of the provision that constitutes the unitary exercise of
interpretation . I would only add that the triad of text, context and purpose should
not be used in a mechanical fashion. It is the relationship between the words
used, the concepts expressed by those words and the place of the contested
provision within the scheme of the agreement (or instrument) as a whole that
~ 2022 (4) SA 362 (CC) at paragraph 76
5 2022 ( I) SA 100 (SCA)
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constitutes the enterprise by recourse to which a coherent and salient
interpretation is determined. '
[29] Furthermore, it is trite that interpretation is an objective process in which a
sensible meaning is to be preferred to one that leads to insensible or
unbusiness like results or undermines the apparent purpose of the document.
[30] The tender was evaluated based on the ability of the bidder to provide the
services for which the invite to tender was issued.6 Paragraph 3.13 of the
invitation to tender set out the functionality requirements and provided that:
'Functionality requirements are applicable
Functionality will be evaluated on a total weight of 100% with a minimum
threshold for each of the vegetation management areas as follows:
1. Bush clearing and tree clearing -86%
2. Substation weeding and herbicide -70%
Failure by the tenderer to meet the above minimum threshold will lead to
disqualification.'
[3 1] The invitation to tender states further that the prices of the response to tender will
be on a preference point system of (80/20). Furthermore , all tenderers would be
allocated a score of 80 points on price as the price rate for the contract was
standard.
[32] Paragraph 3.18 is described as Ranking of tenders. The process is headed
PPFA and Preference Points. The invitation to tender provided that bidders
would be ranked based on their scores as per PPPFA scoring. After scoring the
6Para 4 of the Technical Tender Evaluation Report. page 50
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bidders points for specific goals which was out of 20, the first respondent would
add these points to the points allocated for pricing to rank the bidders from the
highest to the lowest in terms of this combined score.
[33] The deadlock breaking mechanism would be employed when two or more
bidders scored the same number of points. In terms of the deadlock breaking
mechanism , if two or more bidders scored an equal number of points then the
tender would be awarded to the bidder that scored the highest points for specific
goals. However, if two or more bidders scored an equal number of points in all
respects, then the bid would be awarded by the drawing of lots. Paragraph 3.18
of the invitation to tender echoes regulation 8 of the Preferential Procurement
Regulations 2022 which is applicable to the tender.7
[34] The first respondent interpreted the phrase in all respects to refer only the points
awarded in the third stage of the tender process, i.e. points awarded for price and
specific goals. Thus, points awarded for functionality would not be considered.
On this interpretation , bidder 44 was eligible to participate in the drawing of lots
and the applicant was not.
[35] The applicant adopted a different approach and interpreted the phrase to include
points for functionality , price and specific goals. On this interpretation, the
applicant would have qualified to participate in the drawing of lots.
[36] Adv Mokale for the first respondent referred the court to various authorities
limiting the role of functionality as a qualification (and not an award) criteria
and/or as an additional objective factor within the context of section 2(1 )(f) of the
7 Regulation 8 reads as follows: ·8 Criteria for breaking deadlock in scoring
(/) (fn110 or more Jenderers score an equal total number of points, the contract mus/ be awarded to the
tenderer that scored the highes1 poinls.for spectfic goals.
(2) (l two or more lenderers score equal total points in all respects, the award must be decided by the drawing
of lots.·
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Procurement Act. The present case is distinguishable as it does not pertain to
the award of a tender per se nor to the situation envisaged by section 2(1)(f) of
the Procurement Act.
[37] As set out above, in stage 3 of the tender process all the bidders were awarded
the same points for price with the points for specific goals being the only variable.
On the first respondent's interpretation , the deadlock mechanism would apply as
follows in respect of this tender:
(i) bidders were ranked in terms of the cumulative points awarded for price
and specific goals;
(ii) as there were two or more bidders who received the same points, the
tender had to be awarded to the bidder who scored the most points in
respect of specific goals. However, as a result of the points allocated for
specific goals being the only variable, the position would remain
unchanged irrespective of whether or not the award of tender was done on
the basis of points for specific goals only or on the basis of points awarded
cumulatively for both price and specific goals;
(iii) thus, as soon as two or more bidders obtained the same points at the end
of stage 3, the award of the tender would automatically progress to the
drawing of lots. In the circumstances of this tender, a referral to points for
specific points upon a deadlock being reached served no purpose and
was superfluous.
[38] The first respondent argued that its interpretation was the correct one as it would
ensure that new entrants, particularly smaller enterprises could be
accommodated in the industry. However, no factual basis was presented in
support of this submission.
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[39] On the first respondent 's interpretation the phrase in all respects would simply
mean specific goals. This interpretation is inconsistent with the language used
both in the tender invite and in the procurement regulation 8 of 2022 as it did
does not refer to specific goals but to in all respects.
[40] Furthermore, the first respondent's interpretation is not consistent with the
objectives of section 217 of the Constitution as it did not award the tender in a
competitive and cost-effective manner. Furthermore, it is also inconsistent with
the first respondent's own vegetation management plan which strives to be
economica l.
[41] Taking functionality into account during the second stage of the deadlock
breaking mechanism would make the tender process more competitive and
would ensure that the successful bidder would also be able to perform and meet
the needs of the first respondent. It would ensure that the award of the tender
resulted in the best possible value for money being achieved.8 This yields a
sensible and commercially sound result.
[ 42] If the phrase in all respects includes functionality and not only price and specific
goals, it would avoid the superfluous role assigned to specific goals in the first
stage of the deadlock breaking mechanism. This interpretation would also be
consistent with the objective sought to be achieved by the deadlock breaking
mechanism. Furthermore , it would also further the first respondent's objective of
implementing its vegetation management plan in an economical manner.
[43] In the circumstances, I am in agreement with the applicant's submission that the
first respondent's interpretation is inconsistent with the plain language of the
phrase in all respects as used in the invitation to tender and regulation 8 of the
8 Rainbow Civis CC v Minister of Transport and Public Works, Western Cape and others (21158/2012) [2013]
ZAWCHC 3 (3 February 2013)
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2022 regulations as well as with the objectives of section 217 of the
Constitution. 9
[44] Therefore , after considering the legal principles and factual context, I am of the
view that the phrase in all respects as used in the deadlock breaking mechanism
in the invitation to tender refers to functionality , pricing and specific goals.
f 451 As the first respondent applied the incorrect interpretation of the phrase in all
respects, it failed to comply with the deadlock mechanism set out in the invitation
to tender as well as regulation 8 of the 2022 regulations. It failed also failed to
consider functionality, which was a relevant consideration when it implemented
the deadlock breaking mechanism. This rendered the award of the tender
irregular and unlawful. Consequently, the award of the tender stands to be
reviewed and set aside.
[46] Therefore , I make the following order:
(i) the award of tender with tender number WCTX1098SL to the second to
eighth respondents is reviewed and set aside;
(ii) the award of the tender with tender number WCTX 1098SL is remitted to
the first respondent for reconsideration:
(iii) the costs occasioned by the postponement on 20 February 2025 shall be
borne by the applicant and shall be costs on scale B;
(iv) save for the costs set out in paragraph (iii) above, the costs of the
application shall be borne by the first respondent on scale B.
Q Paragraph 40 or the applicant" s heads of argument