SASSA’s million-rand powerbank tender
SASSA recently awarded a tender for the procurement of 800 powerbanks for a whopping R1,3 million!
South Africa, we need to talk. Not about load shedding (because we’ve already accepted that as a personality trait), but about how SASSA (South African Social Security Agency) just made the most shocking power move of the year.
Here’s what went down: SASSA put out a tender for 800 powerbanks. Not just any powerbanks though, but 20,000mAh units, probably strong enough to power a small village during Stage 6.
One hundred and five companies threw their hats in the ring, with the cheapest bid coming in at R228,000. Reasonable, right?
Well SASSA, being the plot-twist champions they are, ignored all the low bids and handed the deal to the highest bidder, for cool R1.3 million for the same powerbanks.
Meanwhile Sassa advertised the tender for 800 powerbanks of 20000mah. 105 companies responded the cheapest company was 228k but they skipped all the companies and awarded the most expensive of 1.3 million rands. The most expensive powerbank retails at R700 and they awarded a… pic.twitter.com/KUZn4X9Fyy
— The Instigator (@Am_Blujay) March 7, 2025
Now, let’s do some quick maths. The most expensive 20,000mAh powerbank in the wild costs about R700 at retail, but SASSA?
They said, “Nah, let’s pay R1,687 per unit instead.” Why spend R228k when you can blow R1.3 million?
For that price, these powerbanks should come with built-in WiFi, solar panels, a back massage feature, and maybe even a small loan of a million rand.
Meanwhile, somewhere out there, a government official is probably looking at their fully charged phone thinking, “Totally worth it.”
Only in South Africa.
HOW TO LISTEN TO EAST COAST RADIO
1. Listen to East Coast Radio on the FM (frequency modulation) spectrum between 94 and 95 FM on your radio.
2. Listen live to ECR by clicking here or download the ECR App (iOS/Android).
3. Listen to East Coast Radio on the DStv audio bouquet.
4. Switch to the audio bouquet on your OpenView decoder and browse to channel 606.
5. Listen to us on Amazon Alexa.
Follow us on social media:
· TikTok
MORE ON EAST COAST RADIO
Have a similar story or something unique to share? Email us at [email protected], we would love to hear from you!