KWAZULU-NATAL – The allocation of 30 American sport utility vehicles (SUVS) and Chinese 4×4 double-cab bakkies to amakhosi by the Kwazulu-natal Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has come under parliamentary scrutiny following concerns over the transparency and fairness of the distribution process.
On Friday, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Cogta formally intervened, requesting clarity on how the vehicles, regarded as tools of trade for traditional leaders, were allocated and whether the process was guided by fair and equitable criteria. The move follows complaints raised by amakhosi through the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) in Kwazulu-natal, where concerns have emerged that some traditional leaders were favoured over others in receiving the Ford Territory SUVS and GWM P-series bakkies. Allegations have also surfaced that political considerations may have influenced the allocations.
Committee chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize has written to Buthelezi, outlining the committee’s concerns and requesting a full account of the processes followed. As part of its oversight role, the committee has asked the Kwazulunatal department to submit the policy document that informed the allocation of the vehicles, including the budget and framework guiding the provision of tools of trade. It has also requested a detailed list of recipients, the criteria used to determine allocations, and an explanation of how the department intends to assist amakhosi who were excluded from the rollout.
The committee has given the department until May 6 to submit its response. Mkhize said the matter went beyond the allocation of vehicles and spoke to broader principles of accountability in the use of public resources.
Parliamentary intervention follows KZN Cogta portfolio committee chairperson Marlaine Nair’s concerns about the purchase of the vehicles. Nair sent parliamentary questions to the MEC about the vehicles’ funding model, emphasizing the public's right to know how the funds were being spent. Buthelezi said he had not received Nair’s questions, two weeks ago.
In a response to the Sunday Tribune regarding Nair’s parliamentary questions and the Parliamentary probe, KZN Cogta stated it has not received either letter. Last week, responding to Ubumbano Lwezinduna, the department said: “What is clear is that there is a concerted campaign to discredit the reforms that the MEC has introduced into the institution of traditional leadership in this province.”
