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KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has publicly backed the provincial Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) ‘s controversial programme to provide official vehicles to amakhosi, saying the SUVs are essential tools to enable traditional leaders to carry out their customary responsibilities.

Ntuli’s remarks come amid growing scrutiny over the KZN Cogta multi-year vehicle procurement programme, which has drawn criticism over its affordability at a time when the province is grappling with severe financial pressures.

Speaking during the handover of vehicles to 16 amakhosi from the King Cetshwayo, Umkhanyakude and Zululand district municipalities, Ntuli dismissed suggestions that the vehicles were a luxury, insisting they were necessary for amakhosi to effectively serve their communities.

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“The vehicles are tools of trade which will assist amakhosi in monitoring service delivery and development programmes in the areas under their jurisdiction,” he said

Ntuli, who during the handover of the vehicle to Amakhosi was accompanied by Cogta MEC Rev Thulasizwe Buthelezi and uMhlathuze Municipality Mayor Xolani Ngwezi, said the handover reflected the provincial government’s continued recognition of traditional leaders as critical partners in governance, particularly in rural communities.

“The vehicles symbolise the provincial government’s ongoing collaboration and recognition of amakhosi as the front runners of service delivery, ambassadors of peace and custodians of conflict resolution in communities that fall under their traditional leadership,” he said.

The Premier also linked the initiative to efforts to strengthen the institution of traditional leadership in line with the wishes of the late Zulu nation prime minister Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

“It shows that the provincial government is making strides in fulfilment of uMntwana (Prince Buthelezi) ‘s wish for the powers of Amakhosi to be fully restored.

“As a society, we can’t have a situation where others make decisions on behalf of the Amakhosi in the areas presided over by traditional leadership.

“The programme is part of the provincial government’s efforts to restore the dignity of the Amakhosi so that they can be able to discharge their duties,” he said.

Ntuli’s statement is the strongest endorsement yet of a programme that has become one of the province’s most debated governance initiatives.

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Cogta recently procured another 35 SUVs as part of the latest phase of the rollout following an earlier batch of 30 vehicles that cost close to R20 million.

The department has indicated that the programme will continue over the coming years until all of KZN’s nearly 300 amakhosi have been provided with official vehicles.

However, the initiative has faced sustained criticism from opposition parties.

Questions have been raised over the programme’s affordability, particularly after Cogta confirmed that the initial procurement had not been budgeted for during the 2025/26 financial year and was instead financed through savings from other departmental programmes.

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The DA and MK Party were of the view that the rollout is intended to bolster the IFP ‘s support ahead of the November local government elections, claims Buthelezi has repeatedly rejected as “spurious and unfounded”.

Buthelezi is an IFP national executive committee (NEC) member while Ntuli is the party’s KZN provincial chairperson.

The DA in the province has also expressed concern over the long-term sustainability of the programme.

Buthelezi has consistently defended the procurement, saying Cogta’s responsibilities extended beyond municipal oversight to strengthening traditional leadership institutions.

Equipping amakhosi with the necessary resources, Buthelezi said, is vital for promoting peace, preserving cultural heritage and improving service delivery in rural communities.