Gravy ladles of gold, cut-glass champagne glasses, dozens of new paintings and 48 Persian carpets fit for a president – that is what government shoppers are buying for at least one state home in Pretoria.
The Department of Public Works has issued tenders for the supply of “presidential standard” household items for a “VIP residence”, but says it’s not for the president.
The VIP residence isn’t specified, but the site visit for prospective bidders is at the Bryntirion Estate in Pretoria, which houses the official residences of the president, ministers and the Presidential guesthouse. The tenders were issued last week.
“This is not for the house of the president. They are items for a VIP residence,” said Public Works spokesman Thami Mchunu, who would not explain further.
“These are not replacement items, but are items for a VIP residence,” said Mchunu.
The shopping lists would mean that dozens of guests could sit down to supper with top-quality tableware, napkins with coats of arms on them, Persian rugs underfoot and “executive style” artwork on the walls.
Both the department and the Presidency said the president was not involved.
“The Department of Public Works manages and handles all aspects of the maintenance, renovations and anything that needs to be done to the official residences of the president. The president does not become involved in the procurement of any items, eg carpets, paintings, crockery or the structures. These residences belong to the state for use by the head of state,” said Zizi Kodwa, special adviser to President Jacob Zuma.
The call for tenders comes just a week after The Star revealed that the Presidential Protection and Security Services are looking for a vehicle hire business that can provide a luxury vehicle available “at all times” in each of seven provinces, excluding Gauteng and the Western Cape, for the use by Zuma’s wives.
The tender for 45 artworks and 15 sets of ornaments starts with a “very beautiful piece of artwork painting suitable for the entrance hall of the president with gold or silver frames. It must be an attractive piece 1 500 x 1 650,” the tender documents state.
Other artworks and ornaments are required for the lounges, dining room, the DP’s (presumably deputy president’s) office, spousal office, admin offices and bedrooms.
The list of 48 Persian carpets required “for a whole VIP house” starts with a “very beautiful piece of Persian carpets suitable for the entrance hall of the president. It must be attractive big pieces 3 500 x 3 500 and 3 500 x 2 500. The matching runner must be a nice piece of art 7 000 x 900.”
One Persian carpet dealer told The Star that a top-quality rug of 3.5 x 2.8m would cost about R35 000.
The entire building seems to be set for Persian carpets, with the list detailing the carpets required for the lounges – “to brighten the lounge, as it looks dark” – dining room, two for the spousal office, one for the household manager’s room, passages, bedrooms, a conference room and even the staff restroom, and a kilim rug for the patio.
“All carpets specified are hand- made carpets, genuine Persian carpets. Modern version to match the style of the modern house. We need top-range carpets only with fine texture,” say the tender documents.
Even the “safe heaven” must have “executive styled piece of art paintings in mahogany frame”, ornaments on the coffee table and a Persian carpet.
“The cutlery set should be supplied in beads design and pure gold material suitable for presidential standard. The whole set should have the same shade of gold,” state the documents.
There are 300 units of cutlery on the shopping list, made up of 25 boxes of 12 items per set.
They include 19 different types of cutlery, from soup spoons to fish knives and salad forks.
The dinner tables will also have hand-cut crystal glasses, of “a high standard quality suitable for presidential standard”. There must be 300 of each of eight types of glasses, from champagne to whisky glasses.
The shopping list includes lines for the bedrooms in the VIP house, including white and cream king-sized linen for the main bedroom, and queen-sized linen for guest rooms.
- IOL
The Department of Public Works has issued tenders for the supply of “presidential standard” household items for a “VIP residence”, but says it’s not for the president.
The VIP residence isn’t specified, but the site visit for prospective bidders is at the Bryntirion Estate in Pretoria, which houses the official residences of the president, ministers and the Presidential guesthouse. The tenders were issued last week.
“This is not for the house of the president. They are items for a VIP residence,” said Public Works spokesman Thami Mchunu, who would not explain further.
“These are not replacement items, but are items for a VIP residence,” said Mchunu.
The shopping lists would mean that dozens of guests could sit down to supper with top-quality tableware, napkins with coats of arms on them, Persian rugs underfoot and “executive style” artwork on the walls.
Both the department and the Presidency said the president was not involved.
“The Department of Public Works manages and handles all aspects of the maintenance, renovations and anything that needs to be done to the official residences of the president. The president does not become involved in the procurement of any items, eg carpets, paintings, crockery or the structures. These residences belong to the state for use by the head of state,” said Zizi Kodwa, special adviser to President Jacob Zuma.
The call for tenders comes just a week after The Star revealed that the Presidential Protection and Security Services are looking for a vehicle hire business that can provide a luxury vehicle available “at all times” in each of seven provinces, excluding Gauteng and the Western Cape, for the use by Zuma’s wives.
The tender for 45 artworks and 15 sets of ornaments starts with a “very beautiful piece of artwork painting suitable for the entrance hall of the president with gold or silver frames. It must be an attractive piece 1 500 x 1 650,” the tender documents state.
Other artworks and ornaments are required for the lounges, dining room, the DP’s (presumably deputy president’s) office, spousal office, admin offices and bedrooms.
The list of 48 Persian carpets required “for a whole VIP house” starts with a “very beautiful piece of Persian carpets suitable for the entrance hall of the president. It must be attractive big pieces 3 500 x 3 500 and 3 500 x 2 500. The matching runner must be a nice piece of art 7 000 x 900.”
One Persian carpet dealer told The Star that a top-quality rug of 3.5 x 2.8m would cost about R35 000.
The entire building seems to be set for Persian carpets, with the list detailing the carpets required for the lounges – “to brighten the lounge, as it looks dark” – dining room, two for the spousal office, one for the household manager’s room, passages, bedrooms, a conference room and even the staff restroom, and a kilim rug for the patio.
“All carpets specified are hand- made carpets, genuine Persian carpets. Modern version to match the style of the modern house. We need top-range carpets only with fine texture,” say the tender documents.
Even the “safe heaven” must have “executive styled piece of art paintings in mahogany frame”, ornaments on the coffee table and a Persian carpet.“The cutlery set should be supplied in beads design and pure gold material suitable for presidential standard. The whole set should have the same shade of gold,” state the documents.
There are 300 units of cutlery on the shopping list, made up of 25 boxes of 12 items per set.
They include 19 different types of cutlery, from soup spoons to fish knives and salad forks.
The dinner tables will also have hand-cut crystal glasses, of “a high standard quality suitable for presidential standard”. There must be 300 of each of eight types of glasses, from champagne to whisky glasses.
The shopping list includes lines for the bedrooms in the VIP house, including white and cream king-sized linen for the main bedroom, and queen-sized linen for guest rooms.
- IOL
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