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E25.7m pharm tender saga: Africa Harvest claims tender directors disappeared

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Directors of Pride Oasis (Pty) Ltd, which was awarded an emergency procurement E25.7 million tender for the supply of pharmaceutical and healthcare goods to the Ministry of Health are alleged to have disappeared. However, this picture is not linked to the article. (Courtesy pic)
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MBABANE – Directors of Pride Oasis (Pty) Ltd, which was awarded an emergency procurement E25.7 million tender for the supply of pharmaceutical and healthcare goods to the Ministry of Health are alleged to have disappeared.

This is according to Africa Harvest (Pty) Ltd, the company that was reportedly approached by the directors of Pride Oasis for assistance as they allegedly did not have funds to finance the purchase orders in terms of the tender.

Africa Harvest has since approached the High Court with an urgent application seeking an order placing Pride Oasis under provisional judicial management in terms of Section 365 of the Companies Act, 2009 and upon such other terms as the court may deem fit.

Respondents in the matter are Pride Oasis, the Master of the High Court and the attorney general. Africa Harvest seeks the appointment of attorney Sifiso Mhlabuhlangene Maseko as provisional judicial manager.

The founding affidavit was deposed to by Mqemane Felix Matsebula, who identified himself as a Director of Africa Harvest.  Matsebula stated that Pride Oasis was a company incorporated in Eswatini with its principal place of business at Warehouse Number 4, Lot 691, Tabankulu Street, Matsapha Industrial Site, in the Manzini Region. He said the company’s business includes sourcing pharmaceutical and healthcare goods for government tenders.

Matsebula stated that in December 2025, Pride Oasis was awarded an emergency procurement tender for the supply of pharmaceutical and healthcare goods to the Ministry of Health. The contract sum was stated to be E25.7 million.

According to Matsebula, Pride Oasis did not have sufficient funds to finance the purchase orders issued under the tender. He alleged that the Ministry of Health had issued a letter of intention to cancel the tender or revoke the purchase orders because of the funding challenges. He stated that Pride Oasis, through its partner Bongani Sibusiso Dlamini, approached Africa Harvest seeking assistance in sourcing capital to finance the procurement required under the government tender.

“After conducting due diligence, Africa Harvest agreed to assist and entered into a Facility Procurement Agreement with Pride Oasis. In terms of the agreement, Africa Harvest undertook to source finance from undisclosed principals for the procurement of pharmaceutical and healthcare goods required under the tender,” Matsebula submitted.  The respondents are yet to file answering papers in the event they are opposed to the application. Africa Harvest is represented by Mangaliso Nkomondze of Nkomondze Attorneys.

According to the affidavit, the finance sourced by Africa Harvest was paid directly to a supplier in South Africa for the procurement of the goods. The goods were reportedly then delivered to the Ministry of Health through the facilitation and financing arranged by Africa Harvest.

Matsebula stated that the agreement between the parties was intended to bind an undisclosed principal acting through Africa Harvest. He further stated that the parties understood that the undisclosed principal would not be revealed and that Africa Harvest reserved the right to institute legal proceedings in its own name on behalf of the principal if necessary.

He also alleged that Pride Oasis breached the Facility Procurement Agreement by refusing, failing or neglecting to include him (Matsebula) as a co-signatory to the company’s designated bank account into which payments from the Ministry of Health were to be deposited.

Matsebula stated that this requirement was significant because it constituted the only form of security available to Africa Harvest and its principal in relation to the financing arrangement. He alleged that despite several verbal demands, Pride Oasis did not comply with the request to add him as a signatory to the account.

According to the affidavit, on April 1, 2026, Matsebula learnt from the government Treasury Department that payment for the procurement undertaken by Pride Oasis was imminent.

*Full article available on Pressreader*  

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