Tzaneen’s Muni defends mayor’s new Merc
'The expenditure might be irregular, but it is far from wasteful or fruitless.'
Neville Ndlala spokesperson of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) responds verbatim to the claims against the mayors new Merc:
‘The purchase of a new vehicle for the Mayor was necessary for several reasons, first the previous mayor’s vehicle was bought in 2011 and has exceeded 150 000 kilometres and was no longer under motor plan. The vehicle was involved in two separate accidents albeit minor.
The vehicle has also suffered numerous mechanical breakdowns costing the municipality in excess of R180 000 as some stage and in a very short period. There was also high cost of hiring a vehicle for the mayor during the periods where the vehicle was involved either in an accident or suffered mechanical breakdown.
We have invoices to back this. In actual fact the purchase of the new vehicle will save the municipality money and will be convenient for the mayor. The SALGA handbook allows for the replacement of the mayor’s official vehicle if it has exceeded 150000 km, the mileage on the previous vehicle stood at 173 000km.
We also have to purchase an SUV considering the terrain that we operate in, the mayor has to travel to mountainous rural areas to engage communities. He also needs a reliable vehicle for official trips outside the municipality. We have purchased a vehicle that is standard and is used by a majority of mayors, MECs etc. all over the country.
It is also misleading and demeaning for the DA to suggest that buying a vehicle for a mayor is wasteful and fruitless. The expenditure might be irregular, but it is far from wasteful or fruitless. The purchase was done above board and through deviation which is legally permissible. The cost of the vehicle does not exceed the amount allowed for the purchase of vehicles for Mayors.
When it comes to the purchase of a vehicle for the speaker, as a municipality we are not aware of any recent purchase for the new speaker. We do however have a vehicle which we bought in 2014 to transport the speaker, that vehicle is still in a good condition and available for official use.
The mayor, as the first citizen must be transported in a safe reliable vehicle, his safety first as a human being and secondly as Mayor must be prioritised. The mayor will be required to meet people even during turmoil and violent service delivery protests, it is therefore important that he is provided with a reliable safe mode of transportation.
With regard to the attachment of assets of the municipality, it must be stated categorically clear that no asset of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality has been attached both movable and immovable assets. We have challenged the court order granted to Expetera and the matter is still before the courts.’
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