The rebranded Project Kgala, previously Project Thusano, has accumulated R1.7 billion in irregular expenditure. The initiative, focusing on military training in Cuba, has faced scrutiny from the Auditor-General. DoD officials assure improvements while concerns linger regarding effectiveness and cost efficiency.
South Africa’s Project Thusano, a skills transfer initiative with Cuba that incurred R1.7 billion in irregular expenditure, has been rebranded as Project Kgala. This contract, initially signed in January 2012, was replaced by a new agreement effective January of this year. Officials from the Department of Defence and Military Veterans (DoD) presented the updated project parameters to the relevant Portfolio Committee, addressing concerns from the previous program.
The purpose of Project Thusano, now Project Kgala, was to provide South African Defence personnel with professional qualifications in transport and medical training in Cuba. The DoD representatives portrayed Project Kgala as a continuum of the original initiative, arguing that it builds upon the historical relationship established previously. They asserted that this project aims to enhance the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) capacity through skills development that promotes innovation and self-sustainability.
Originally, Project Thusano cost R3 billion over a decade. In contrast, the restructured Project Kgala is projected to cost R537 million over the next five years, as stated by DoD officials during the committee presentation. Furthermore, an Auditor-General’s report highlighted R1.7 billion in irregular expenditures related to the project, including R1 billion associated with professional training and R600 million for vocational training.
The Auditor-General noted that the irregular expenditure arose from the DoD’s failure to conduct a proper cost-benefit analysis prior to launching the project, in addition to poor record-keeping, which negatively impacted financial transparency. DoD officials assured the committee that measures had been taken to rectify these issues, promising reduced fees, fixed costs, fewer traveling managers, and improved administrative efficiency.
The Auditor-General’s insights indicated failures in various aspects of Project Thusano, including discrepancies in vehicle maintenance contracts, which lacked proper documentation for payments. In terms of student training, it was revealed that South Africa incurred significantly higher costs sending medical students to Cuba compared to training them locally. Integration success was low, with minimal passes among the first group of students returning from Cuba.
The necessity for collaboration with Cuba was justified by the DoD, citing South Africa’s inability to adequately train its military personnel. However, members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) expressed skepticism about the rebranding of Project Thusano to Project Kgala, questioning the reliability of the DoD’s assertions and the actual benefits derived from the decade-long initiative, illustrating a broader concern regarding military training practices in South Africa.
In summary, the rebranding of Project Thusano to Project Kgala underscores a continuing partnership between South Africa and Cuba despite previous irregularities amounting to R1.7 billion in expenditure. The DoD is committed to improving efficiencies and cost-effectiveness in military training. However, concerns remain regarding the reliability and outcomes of such partnerships, raising questions about their long-term benefits to the SANDF and South African industry.
Original Source: www.citizen.co.za
