KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) is facing mounting scrutiny after rolling out a fleet of vehicles to Amakhosi, with key details about the procurement process still undisclosed.
The handover, led by MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi, took place at a provincial event attended by traditional leaders from across the province. The initiative has been framed as a practical measure to improve mobility for Amakhosi serving in remote rural areas.
However, questions have emerged over how the vehicles were acquired.
According to departmental sources, the fleet was procured through a bulk purchasing process initiated in late 2025 and fast-tracked under a rural governance support programme. Officials indicated that Cogta relied on an existing transversal contract—an arrangement that allows government departments to procure goods from pre-approved suppliers without issuing a new public tender.
While such contracts are permitted under public finance regulations, critics argue that their use can limit transparency and reduce competitive pricing oversight.
Cogta has yet to disclose the total cost of the fleet, the identity of the supplier or suppliers, or the timeline of approvals leading up to the purchase. The absence of these details from official communications has drawn concern from opposition parties and governance watchdogs.
Opposition leaders have called for a full accounting of the procurement, including when contracts were signed, who authorised them, and whether value for money was achieved.
“The public has a right to know how these decisions were made and how much was spent,” one opposition representative said.
Buthelezi has defended the rollout, describing it as a necessary intervention to support traditional leaders who often travel long distances to serve their communities. “This is about improving access and service delivery in rural areas,” he said at the event.
Cogta has indicated that a formal briefing on the procurement process will be provided, though no date has been confirmed.
Until then, the vehicle rollout—intended as a boost to rural governance—risks being overshadowed by unanswered questions over transparency and accountability in public spending.
Email: motshwari@onenews.co.za
