Note to Editors: Please find linked soundbites in English and Sesotho by Freddy Sonakile MPL.
The DA condemns in the strongest terms the alleged fraud and outright lies that have characterised the sorry state of the donkey car debacle. Once again ordinary South Africans have been at the receiving end of what appears to be a donkey car scam.
A formal complaint was lodged with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the R780,000.00 donkey cart project launched by the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management in the North West province.
This follows revelations that the owners of LKT Business Enterprise indicated that the company is in the process of being deregistered, that the company does not have a bank account and that they are completely unaware that the tender contract was awarded to them.
This is in direct contradiction to the statement made by the department’s spokesperson Oshebeng Alpheus Koonyaditse, who indicated to the media that LKT Enterprise was one of the 10 companies that bid for this tender and that it was awarded the contract “…because the name appears in the report we prepared.”
It seems that even the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management is unsure of who received the contract. To borrow from the artist, Professor – ikariki entshontsha imali!
Barely two weeks since receiving the donkey carts, some beneficiaries have already indicated that the donkey carts are breaking down.
Further allegations are doing the rounds that these donkey carts were manufactured in 2017 and have been gathering dust in a warehouse at the Mahikeng Airport.
The DA expressed its utter repugnance over the project, specifically the brazen attempt at corruption with overpriced carts and questionable timing of the launch. Instead of MEC Sello Lehari taking the public into confidence, he and the department opted to enter a PR spin, interviewing the Ward Councillor and the beneficiaries who welcomed the donation of these carts. Interestingly, some beneficiaries had reservations once they were made aware of the cost of the carts.
With all the conflicting statements and allegations, the SIU should investigate this contract.