• Probe comes after serious concerns raised by the DA
• MEC, senior management must allow full access to records
• DA committed to monitoring outcome
The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) backs a decision to expand the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) investigation into the province’s Department of Transport (DoT).
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Proclamation 351 of 2026 expands the existing SIU investigation to include;
• The upgrade of Main Road P361 and District Roads D871 and D1290
• A subsidised public transport tender and;
• Variation orders linked to contracts ZNQ 4197 and ZNQ 4198, and the extension of Contract ZNB 136/17T. The investigation now covers relevant conduct up to 25 September 2026.
The proclamation comes against the backdrop of serious concerns already raised by the DA regarding the DoT’s procurement, financial management and service delivery.
The department has acknowledged more than R1.8billion in outstanding invoices as at 31 March 2026, while the DA has repeatedly raised concerns about procurement irregularities, infrastructure failures and weak oversight.
The SIU must now be given full access to DoT records, contracts, variation orders, payment records and correspondence. Any officials or contractors found to have acted unlawfully must face consequence management, including recovery of public funds where appropriate.
As a responsible partner within KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), the DA believes cooperation must never mean compromising accountability.
We therefore call on MEC, Siboniso Duma and senior departmental management to cooperate fully with the SIU, publish the findings once legally permissible, and implement a clear corrective-action plan.
KZN needs a DoT that delivers roads, bridges and public transport services – not one continually requiring investigations to explain how public money is being managed. Reliable infrastructure and properly managed transport projects are essential to unlock investment, support businesses and create jobs across our province.