Rebranding of South Africa’s Project Thusano to Kgala Amid…

The South African skills transfer program Project Thusano, associated with R1.7 billion irregular expenditure, has been renamed Project Kgala. The initiative focuses on training military personnel in Cuba and aims to enhance SANDF capabilities. The DoD claims improved management practices will rectify previous deficiencies, although criticism remains regarding the program’s effectiveness and efficiency.

South Africa’s skills transfer initiative originally known as Project Thusano has been rebranded as Project Kgala, despite previous concerns highlighted by the Auditor-General regarding R1.7 billion in irregular expenditure. The deal with Cuba, which commenced in January 2012, has transitioned into a new contract that began in January of this year, as presented to the Department of Defence and Military Veterans’ Portfolio Committee.

Project Thusano was designed to provide professional transport and medical training services for personnel from the Department of Defence. The Department of Defence (DoD) justified the new name, claiming that Project Kgala serves as a historical continuity of its predecessor. It emphasized the resilience of Cuba’s military amidst financial difficulties, stating the goal of the revised project is to enhance the skills of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to achieve innovation and self-sustainability.

The total cost of Project Thusano over ten years reached R3 billion, while the new Project Kgala aims to reduce expenses to R537 million over the next five years. The Auditor-General’s report reaffirmed the irregular expenditure figure of R1.7 billion, which includes significant amounts related to professional and vocational training services. The AG pointed out that the underlying issues stemmed from a lack of cost-benefit analysis and poor record-keeping by the DoD.

In response to the AG’s concerns, DoD officials assured improvements in financial management practices, including fee reductions and streamlined administrative efforts. They noted that training in Cuba, formerly counted as irregular expenditure, would now be labeled as foreign learning opportunities under Project Kgala. The DoD also clarified that this is the sole agreement with Cuba regarding technical services for the SANDF.

The AG’s insights included critiques about the efficiency of training in Cuba, stating that contracts for vehicle repairs were handled poorly, contributing to unnecessary expenditures. Of the 108 medical students sent to Cuba, the costs were significantly higher than domestic training. Only a small proportion of these students successfully integrated into accredited programs upon their return to South Africa, further calling into question the effectiveness of the initiative.

The DoD maintained its stance on collaborating with Cuba, asserting that South Africa must rely on external options for the training of military personnel. Concerns were raised in the Portfolio Committee meeting by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) regarding the implications of rebranding Project Thusano to Project Kgala. The DA’s Shadow Minister criticized the endeavor as ineffective, remarking that merely changing the project’s name did not alter its underlying issues.

In conclusion, the rebranding of Project Thusano to Project Kgala occurs amid significant scrutiny regarding the irregular expenditure previously associated with the former initiative. The Department of Defence asserts the new project aims to rectify financial mismanagement while enhancing skills for the SANDF. Concerns, however, remain regarding the effectiveness of the collaboration with Cuba and whether it delivers value for South African taxpayers. There exists a consensus that improvements in administrative practices must be maintained to ensure future success.

Original Source: www.citizen.co.za