Africa-Press – South-Africa. Opposition parties remain adamant the Western Cape government should launch a forensic investigation into the controversial procurement of a fleet of BMWs which have never been used.
The fleet of brand-new 3-Series BMWs was bought in 2022 for the traffic police but has been gathering dust for almost a year.
On Tuesday, 31 of the 122 vehicles were handed over to traffic and law enforcement officers.
The Department of Mobility said the remaining vehicles would be rolled out across the Western Cape over the coming weeks ahead of the festive season and upcoming school holidays.
The unused fleet caused a stir in July when the department faced sharp criticism over its procurement.
At the time, the department said the vehicles were not fit for purpose and a tender to fit technology – including emergency lights, number plate recognition devices and in-vehicle cameras for traffic law enforcement – would have to be issued.
Even though the remainder of the 122 vehicles are still to be handed over, the exact number of the fleet that was procured remains a mystery.
The tender was worth R3.6 million.
The vehicles were purchased to replace an ageing fleet and to meet added transport demands and were parked at the Gene Louw Traffic College, where they had been gathering dust since being procured.
The ANC provincial caucus claims at a cost of R850 000 per vehicle which would amount to R93.5 million for only 10 vehicles, it appears as though the provincial government spent more than what was allocated for the tender.
But despite 31 of the vehicles being handed over, the provincial government is still facing mounting pressure to initiate a forensic investigation.
ANC MPL Lulama Mvimbi said they did not see the handover as a cause for celebration.
“The request for a forensic investigation still stands as that’s the only way we can get to the bottom of this and prove fruitless and wasteful expenditure,” he added.
Mvimbi said the presence of the vehicles lying dormant in government garages not only constituted wasteful and fruitless expenditure by the provincial government but also signified a substantial failure on the part of the DA.
“The delay in this handover, coupled with the revelation that other vehicles remain idle in government garages, raises significant concerns regarding the efficacy of the DA-led provincial government’s management.”
GOOD party MPL Peter de Villiers said the handover was a mere attempt to distract the public from the other vehicles which were not used.
“This publicity stunt has not changed our call for the premier to conduct a forensic investigation into the procurement of these vehicles that are not suitable for use.
“If this was corruption, then the forensic investigation will expose it, and the Hawks must act. If this was incompetence, then someone needs to be held accountable,” he added.
ACDP provincial leader Ferlon Christians said: “Whether this handing over is due to public pressure or not, it is shameful that the handover is only happening now. Bad planning in the delay of handover.”
Mobility MEC Ricardo Mackenzie added the vehicles were equipped with in-vehicle technology, which interfaced directly with the National Traffic Information System and could provide officers with critical information within seconds.
“This means that each vehicle expands our province-wide network of automatic number plate recognition cameras, which monitor road traffic and enable the immediate detection of road traffic infringements, contraventions, and habitual traffic transgressors,” he said.
In response to the opposition’s call for an investigation, Mackenzie added: “They are politicking! We are working!”
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
