Along with the vast majority of KZN government Departments, KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Office of the Premier (OTP) faces significant challenges in making the most effective use of the R767 million 2022/23 budget it is charged with managing. The question is also whether this budget is enough to achieve its objectives – or whether the Premier and his Office will fail, regardless of the amount budgeted. 

The Democratic Alliance (DA) notes with concern the non-allocation of R50 million to KZN’s Youth Empowerment Fund, established three years ago to support and fund youth businesses. The OTP portfolio committee has visited some beneficiaries in the past and witnessed how this funding assists small businesses owned and run by previously disadvantaged youth in our province. That this funding is not budgeted on the 2022/23 MTEF - despite Premier Sihle Zikalala’s commitment of R100million towards the Fund during his 2022 State of the Province Address (SOPA) - is extremely alarming. Where did the Premier get the figure of R100 million? Was there in fact any assurance from Treasury that this would happen? 

Somlomo Kuyadida ukuthi uNdunankulu angavele azokwenza izithembiso ezingekho,noma akhohlise abantu abasha ngesikhathi bedinda uxhaso lokufukula amaBhizinisi. Kanti ubani ohola isifundazwe? Kanti kusuke kuxoxwani ku Lekgothla enibanayo ngaphambi kwenkululumo yesifundazwe uma UNdunankulu ezobuya ekhombise ukudideka.

Forensic Audits

The DA does not believe the Premier has done enough to improve good governance and accountability since he first took office. A prime example is the time taken to conduct forensic investigations and the lack of transparency when they are done. Yesterday, we heard from DA Leader, Francois Rodgers, about the difficulty he has experienced in accessing reports with serious findings.  Why is the Premier hiding reports if he is serious about cleaning corruption? Even worse, why are some errant officials being redeployed instead of facing the disciplinary recommendations? The Premier must take this House into his confidence as to how many forensic investigations have been concluded since he took office. He cannot just talk about consequence management. He must tell the House how many individuals have been held accountable and specific action taken.

Irregular expenditure bill

Then there is KZN’s massive irregular expenditure bill and the corruption that is rife across provincial government Departments and municipalities. This alone is enough evidence that the Premier has failed on his mandate to coordinate and improve efficiency in government.  He has also failed to hold his own cabinet to account. As Premier, the buck stops with him. Yet some Departments continue to underspend budgets and incur increased irregular expenditure with no sign of improvement. 

Royal Household Trust

KZN’s Royal House Trust (RHT) also falls under the watch of the Premier and his Office. A look at the RHT reports during the past five years shows that while the Premier always talks about a revenue strategy, there is still no such thing to date. The Premier has failed to ensure that this entity fulfils its commitment to ensuring that KZN’s monarchy is financially sustainable and independent.

Ukungabikho kohlelo lokuthi KZN Royal House Trust iziqoqele izimali kwenza isimo esingesihle sokuthi Indlunkulu incikiselwe oSopoliti abaziyo ukuthi basemandleni.  Isikhathi sokuthi Indlunkulu izimele sifikile nokuthi Isilo esisha sithole uxhaso kuHulumeni ngaphandle kokuncikiselwa ngoSopolitiki.

Not long ago, we even saw the Premier playing politics with KZN’s monarchy when his Department purchased vehicles for the Queens.  In March 2021, the OTP approved a request and allocated R5.1 million to the Trust towards the purchase of seven vehicles for the Queens. The issue of the seven vehicles was discussed even after the demise of late Queen and the OTP portfolio committee was assured that the seventh vehicle for the late Queen was already purchased. Yet, during the handover ceremony, the Premier told the media that all of the cars were purchased at less than R800 000 each, which was far from the truth.  It was an embarrassment to see the Premier become emotional while trying to spin things after he was exposed for lying about the cost of five of the vehicles, which were in fact worth more than R1million each once VAT had been included.

Today, as this House approves the OTP budget, the question must be asked – does it exclude VAT?  Whoever advised the Premier when it came to the spin around the vehicle debacle misled him even further and caused even more embarrassment. The Provincial Treasury has now highlighted possible irregular expenditure while the Premier still maintains everything was above board. One of the outcomes for the Premier and his OTP relates to Professionalism and Ethics. He needs to lead by example.

Today, the DA calls on the Premier must do the honourable thing and apologize to the public for misleading them. He must take full accountability for the mess he has created. He must also commit before this House today that he will resign in the event that Treasury or the Auditor-General prove that irregular expenditure was incurred during the purchase of these vehicle? Akulona icala ukuthi angazi uma ungazi, akekho nje umuntu obengasola Undunankulu uma avele athi akazi noma akanaso isiqiniseko.

The Coronation

To date, the Premier has failed to take the OTP portfolio committee into his confidence on the process and budget for the coronation of the new Zulu monarch. This will undoubtedly be one of the biggest events KZN’s government has ever funded and there cannot be anyone who tries to damage the image of our monarchy by stealing funds during this process. 

It cannot be ignored that there are also individuals who have used funerals to steal public funds and who then resort to emotional blackmail when questions are asked around expenditure. This was the case when the DA questions were raised around expenditure for the funeral of a late Shembe Church leader. We were called names and there were even attempts of emotional blackmail but later investigations proved us right. The funerals of the late King and Queen cost KZN’s government more than R4 million and there remain areas of questionable expenditure but the moment questions are asked some will say “How can you question the funeral of the King”. Does the Premier know that some prices were negotiated with service providers after their services were rendered? Can he call that good governance?

Conclusion

The Premier needs to face the reality that many people in our province live in extreme poverty and are fast losing hope. Unemployment keeps increasing and poverty is passed from generation to generation. This is the result of an ANC-run government which has no policy direction and is more preoccupied with internal factions. During the July 2021 unrest, the Premier prioritized ANC factionalism over the wellbeing of KZN’s people. He chose to sit on the fence rather than acknowledge that what was happening was created by the ANC.

KZN’s people deserve a Premier who is there for them – particularly during difficult times. They need a Premier committed to good governance and creating a prosperous province by ensuring political stability. What they have is a Premier and an ANC that has long forgotten about them - an ANC where there is no political leadership and which is beyond self-correction even under the so-called New Dawn.

Media Enquiries:

Zwakele Mncwango, MPL

DA KZN Spokesperson the Premier and Royal Household

082 8620360

Lauren Silen

Media Liaison to the DA in the KZN Legislature

083 7799009