Mossel Bay Municipality warns prospective bidders not to pay any fees to any external parties to obtain a municipal tender.

The only tariff that the municipality will charge relating to a tender may be to provide copies of documentation, for which an official receipt will always be issued.

Strict and effective internal audit mechanisms have recently revealed that there have been attempts by people not connected to the municipality to fraudulently ask prospective bidders upfront for money to secure tenders.

When the scam was uncovered, the information about it was immediately brought to the attention of the necessary law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution.

The Municipal Manager, Adv Thys Giliomee thanks both the internal and external auditors for their vigilant attention to detail which has protected the municipality from potential fraud. He calls on potential bidders to contact the municipality if fraud with a bidding process is suspected.

"I am satisfied that the investigations show unequivocally that municipal staff were not involved in the incidents that came to our attention," said Adv Giliomee.