Opposition demands suspension of KZN transport officials over alleged bus tender corruption

Opposition parties in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature are demanding the immediate suspension of senior provincial department of transport officials implicated in a R6 million-a-month bus contract. The move comes after theMail & Guardianreported last weekthat an eMpangeni-based bus operator had accused senior officials — known to theM&G— of colluding to strip him of the lucrative contract after he allegedly refused to pay bribes. According to Mduduzi Sithole, the owner of Zululand Bus Service, he was awarded a seven-year contract to provide commuter transport services on routes between Nseleni and uMtubatuba.

The contract ran from 2016 to 2023 and was later extended for a further five years, until 2028. However, he said it was abruptly terminated in January 2025. He claims this was because he refused to accede to financial demands made by senior officials.

The contract was subsequently awarded to rival operator Ikhwezi Bus Service without being advertised through a normal tender process, according to Sithole. TheDemocratic Alliance(DA), which forms part of the KwaZulu-Natal government of provincial unity (GPU), has called for a probe into Sithole’s allegations. “These revelations, if proven true, point to a deeply entrenched culture of corruption, abuse of power and political patronage within certain state institutions,” party spokesperson Riona Gokool told theM&G.

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“The allegations that officials demanded bribes, cash payments and even the funding of African National Congress activities in exchange for securing and retaining tenders are nothing short of criminal,” Gokool said. She added that the allegations were not isolated but indicative of a broader systemic failure in governance where public resources are allegedly manipulated for private and political gain. “Such conduct undermines service delivery, erodes public trust and directly harms honest businesses that refuse to participate in corrupt practices.

The DA strongly condemns any form of collusion, tender fraud and political interference in procurement processes,” she said. Gokool said the DA would use legislative processes to push for an independent investigation. “We will push for consequence management, including the suspension of implicated officials pending investigation outcomes.

We will advocate for the protection of individuals like Mr Sithole who come forward, as exposing corruption often comes with significant personal risk.” Sithole alleged that officials in question coerced him on several occasions to pay sums ranging from R25 000 and more. He said he also paid for hotel stays of ANC members at the request of the officials.

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