Government faces backlash over controversial vehicle handouts to amakhosi

These are among 35 vehicles that KZN CoGTA gave to amakhosi this week.

Amakhosi deserve state-sponsored cars as tools of trade to provide much-needed services to their rural communities, said the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA) General Secretary Zolani Mkiva.

The traditional leaders' national body reacted to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi's donation of 35 bakkies to amakhosi as tools of trade.

Mkiva said it was long overdue for amakhosi in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape to also get government-sponsored cars, as those from other provinces have been enjoying such a privilege for many years.

“The KZN leaders are among the last ones to receive vehicles, as other amakhosi have been receiving cars for the last 15 years.