J Radebe on procurement of buses for 2010

29 April 2009

Let me first greet all members of the media who are present here today. As
you know that the most critical component of our Transport Preparations for
2010 is the provision of the transport infrastructure but most importantly the
provision of the various modes of public transportation for the World Cup.

During May 2008 the Department of Transport issued a Request for Proposal
(RFP), to the market for the supply of buses and coaches for the 2010 FIFA
World Cup. We received a number of proposals and only four met all the minimum
requirements to qualify for an evaluation.

The RFP required respondents to submit responses in two parts – technical
and financial. Only three bidders were short listed after the evaluation
process and were issued a Best and Final Offer (BAFO) document on 4 December
2008.

Proposals in response to the BAFO document were received from all three
bidders. Following the conclusion of the evaluation, an Inter-Departmental
Evaluation Committee considered and approved the recommendations of the
evaluation panels.

I am therefore delighted to announce today that the following bidders
achieved the preferred bidders’ status:

1. Mercedes Benz for the production of semi-luxury and intercity buses;
and
2. MAN for the production of general spectators buses.

I am also delighted to announce that government is putting a guarantee of
R1,4 billion for the purpose of acquiring the 570 buses. An order of buses will
soon be placed which will be divided as follows:
* 110 general spectator – standard buses
* 168 semi luxury coaches
* 292 intercity buses

An additional 260 buses will be leased from the industry, 250 for general
spectator services and 10 semi-luxury coaches, bringing the total fleet to 830
for the 2010 bus/coach services to be provided by government.

I am pleased with the progress we have made so far, and would like to thank
all the stakeholders who are involved and consequently assisted us to get this
far. I am confident that we will host the best ever World Cup, for Africa and
the world.

Media Contacts:
Collen Msibi
Cell: 082 414 5279

Mawethu Vilana
Head of Transport 2010
Cell: 083 626 8035

Issued By: Ministry of Transport
29 April 2009