Millions Emalangeni truck lying idle

Mystery surrounds a national fire and emergency truck that has lied idle at the Matsapha International Airport since 2004.
The truck, a safety vehicle boasting of a huge crane was to be used during emergencies at the airport, and according to aviation laws, it is a must accessory for any international airport. 
It was purchased through the country’s tender procurement system and supplied by former Senator Mpheni Dlomo’s company.
According to sources, the truck developed mechanical or technical problems soon after its arrival. By then it had been tested and given a clean bill by technicians from the Central Transport Administration (CTA).
It is said that it worked well for a few months but soon packed in thereafter. By then the supplier had been paid in full for services rendered, even though the actual figure is hard to come by.
Unconfirmed sources alleged it was in the region of E4 million.
It could not be ascertained whether when the truck was delivered it had a full guarantee or not. This is because had it been guaranteed, it would have been taken back to its manufacturers for repairs when looking at the short time it packed up in.
Although the truth is not easily forthcoming even from government officials concerned, some claims say the truck developed gearbox and engine problems, while other claims say it developed problems with its fittings that include some computer equipment.
As it is, the truck has been standing idly unused, for all these years and without the supplier being taken to task over such anomalies.
The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Paul Nkhambule, mentioned that it was difficult to pin the truck’s problems on the supplier, adding that according to records, he did all was expected of him.
“He went through all the tendering procedures, supplied the truck which was tested and found to be working. The main problem here could also be a lack of trained personnel to man the truck, and it could have been broken while already in the hands of government with the supplier having fulfilled what was expected of him, hence it is difficult to pin the truck’s problems on his company as other factors come into play here,” Nkhambule said.
The same was said by Nkhambule’s senior, Works Minister Nthuthuko Dlamini.
The minister has been in the news recently stating that he would work hard in removing the tag of ‘cesspool of corruption,’ which his ministry has been known about for some time now, something that began long before his tenure as a minister there. “Yes I am aware of the truck you are talking about and the circumstances resulting in its being grounded,” Dlamini said.
When he was asked as to what he would do to fix the problem, Dlamini said there was nothing much he could do since the truck was purchased long before he arrived at the ministry.
“I am also made to understand that the supplier went through all the tendering procedures and won the tender. He also delivered the truck and it was working only for it to pack up after a few months of working. I cannot be sure about its guarantees, but since it was purchased before my tenure, there is nothing much I can do about the situation right now,” Dlamini said, alluding to the fact that the problem was beyond his control.
When further pressed if he really meant that there was nothing that could be done about the issue, looking at taxpayer’s funds going down the drain over the issue Dlamini went on and even use an old Siswati adage meaning being ‘helpless,’ whatever he could do would be like ‘farting in the water’ (kusutela emantini) where the foul smell would not affect anybody since the issue was now long beyond ‘repair’.
“Like I said, the supplier went through all the necessary procedures and delivered a working tool. I think the problem is with our tender procurement procedures that can be easily manipulated to allow such to be possible. I think we should look at that problem, fix it and work towards the future on a new ground. Otherwise right now there is nothing I can do about that truck,” he said.