South Africa's top construction firms colluded over
contracts to build and revamp stadiums for the 2010 World Cup, the
Competition Commission said Wednesday, paving the way for possible
prosecution.
The commission said dozens of firms "colluded" over the
megaprojects, in some instances allocating tenders among the
themselves and reaching deals "agreeing on profit margins."
South Africa poured 20 billion rand (nearly $2 billion
or 1.4 billion euros at today's rates) into the construction and
refurbishment of 10 stadiums to be used for the showpiece soccer
tournament.
Five of the venues were built from scratch, including
the 94,500-seater Soccer City in Soweto, which hosted the opening match
and the final.
Twenty-one companies have admitted wrongdoing and have paid settlements totalling 1.4 billion rand.
But the commission said Murray & Roberts, Group Five, WBHO, Basil Read and Stefanutti Stocks have denied collusion.
Murray & Roberts have been granted leniency.
"They have denied collusive tendering, but we have
evidence that they were involved in such behaviour," said Mava Scott,
the spokesman for the Competition Commission.
"We have now referred the matter to the Competition Tribunal for adjudication," he said.
"They face collusion charges."
-SAPA
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