Opposition parties say vehicles is nothing more than election 'pay-off'

Although the provincial government’s move to provide vehicles to senior traditional leaders was welcomed in some circles, opposition political parties and other interest groups criticised it as an attempt to “buy” votes ahead of next year’s general elections. The vehicles will cost taxpayers a more than R30 million.

On Monday, 27 November, the Limpopo government, led by Premier Chupu Mathabatha and MEC for Co-Operative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) Basikopo Makamu, allocated 57 vehicles to senior traditional leaders from around the province. This was apparently done to enable “deserving” traditional leaders to carry out their duties as leaders of their communities. The handover took place during a function at the Ngoako Ramatlhodi Stadium in Seshego.

One of the beneficiaries, Thovhele Ratshibvumo II Rambuda, a senior Vhavenda traditional leader, said he was delighted and relieved to see that the government understood the pressures and challenges traditional leaders faced, having to move back and forth when dealing with their communities’ problems, such as service delivery and chieftain squabbles.

“Our communities are situated in deep rural areas, and without a proper vehicle, it is difficult to reach some of them to address certain issues. We believe that these vehicles will help us improve services in our communities. I urge other senior traditional leaders to utilise their vehicles for the purpose they were meant for, and nothing else,” said Rambuda.

The allocation of the vehicles followed MEC Makamu’s recent announcement that a total of 102 vehicles would be procured for senior traditional leaders by the end of the current financial year. Monday’s handover was the first batch to be allocated. Premier Mathabatha announced that the rest would be delivered before the end of the financial year.

“Traditional leaders remain an important component of our democracy. Despite the many challenges that the province had previously witnessed due to budget constraints, which affected the allocation of needed resources to traditional leaders, the province has now improved. This year, Limpopo - through CoGHSTA - has built 10 offices for senior traditional leaders in the province, which is a significant achievement,” said Mathabatha.

Commenting on the handing over of the vehicles, Limpopo’s chairperson of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Mr Tshilidzi Maraga, said they were appalled by the ANC’s abuse of state resources for electioneering purposes, which they tried to disguise as delivering services to the people.

The Limpopo communication secretary of the Congress of the People (COPE), Mr Lesibana Kgole, accused the ANC of making every attempt to buy the traditional leaders’ loyalty ahead of next year’s general elections. “We view this action as a futile attempt to influence the unsuspecting traditional communities [by] using state resources. Communities around Limpopo still lack clean water, better sanitation, and economic opportunities. The women in the province are still bearing the brutal brunt of unemployment, poverty, and inequality. These communities and traditional leaders know who causes them pain and a life of indignity. This conduct is the antithesis of a conducive environment for a free and fair election outcome,” Kgole said.

Date:09 December 2023

By: Silas Nduvheni

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