An internal investigation by the North West transport department launched in November has found no wrongdoing in the controversial donkey cart project.
The carts were built by LKT Business Enterprice (sic) for rural communities in Mmanawana and Dibono villages, in a project which cost the department R780,000. Two-seater carts cost R32,500, while slightly bigger four-seaters cost R45,500.
The department’s MEC Sello Lehari launched the probe into the pricing of the project after a public outcry as some of the carts broke down after single use.
Lehari initiated the investigation just two weeks after the project was launched.
North West Transport spokesperson Oshebeng Alpheus Koonyaditse told TimesLIVE Premium the matter was now closed.
“The investigation was concluded and found that all the procurement processes were followed properly.”
Koonyaditse added: “It is (now) a closed chapter. Importantly, processes were followed to the letter.”
Asked for a copy of the report, Koonyaditse indicated it was an internal report.
It is a closed chapter. Importantly, processes were followed to the letter.
— North West transport department
The DA, which had approached the Special Investigating Unit requesting a probe into the deal which it labelled as corrupt, said it had yet to see the department’s report.
At least three of the carts handed out in Mmanawana and Dibono villages were either broken down or are already showing defects. None of them were in use just a week after they were delivered.
Three months later, the carts with identified defects were yet to be fixed, according to local councillor in the two villages, Tshepiso Motshabi.
“I am angry with the department because they made an undertaking that all the carts would be fixed. They must not take advantage of our people like this,” Motshabi said this week.
“We agreed with the department that the service provider would fix them but none of them have been fixed,” Motshabi said.
Koonyaditse said they were not aware that the carts were not fixed as they had not received any complaints.
“The carts that were said to be defective were repaired accordingly,” Koonyaditse said.
In November, the contractor indicated that he had assembled a team to fix all the identified defects, including roofs which were already falling apart.
DA member of the North West provincial legislature, Freddie Sonakile said they will await the report which stated that no wrongdoing was found.
“We have lodged a complaint with the SIU because it didn’t make sense that the accused department was to investigate itself,” Sonakile said.
He said they wanted to study the report first. “But we are not abandoning our SIU probe request. The amounts for those donkey carts is ridiculous, and they must still make public the supply chain processes they followed in that tender,” he said.
Donkey carts are the main mode of transport in the two neighbouring villages 40km outside Mahikeng.
They are in some of South Africa's most remote areas without schools, clinics or proper roads. Tracks have been created by the donkey carts which villagers have been using for generations.
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