TCM vehicles ferry ANC supporters

LYDENBURG – During the last registration weekend conducted by the IEC, the ANC apparently capitalised on infrastructure and equipment of Thaba Chweu Municipality.

Bakkies, rented from Avis by the governing body, were blatantly utilised to promote this party’s interest campaign and to encourage voters to register.

TCM’s rented bakkies was spotted ferrying ANC activists through Mashishing and Simile in Sabie. These vehicles are being fuelled at the taxpayers’ expense and driven by employees of TCM who are supposedly responsible for these vehicles.

Residents spotted a local employee (plumber) in the technical department and subsequently took a couple of pictures with their cellphones. These were sent to the newspaper as proof of the misuse of TCM’s rental vehicles.

According to Cllr Farhad Essack, he appeared very aggressive when approached by Essack in Mashishing. Nhlanghla Masinga, a local DA CSO stationed in Mashishing, also attempted to intervene but was brushed aside.

Essack took huge exception stating the rental agreement with Avis did not allow for TCM vehicles to be utilised considering the nearing election. He further went on to call the acting municipal manager, Mr Godfrey Nkosi, informing him of the transgressions and the evidence at hand. Essack said this further proved how the ruling party used and abused innocent ratepayer’s money to further its cause and that of connected individuals.

He said he would be writing formally to the municipal manager asking him to charge TCM’s employee for gross negligence and abuse of the municipality’s property.

DA MP Sonja Boshoff said the abuse of power and municipal resources by the ANC continuedas South African headed for the 2014 general elections.

“On February 8, vehicles rented from Avis by TCM were deployed to Mashishing. These were used to cart members around for canvassing purposes. This blatant misuse of municipal resources to fund and boost the ANC’s election campaign is unacceptable, and is symbolic of the extent the ANC is prepared to go to under the leadership of Jacob Zuma and DD Mabuza, in an attempt to cling to power.

“This is a clear indication that the ANC is feeling the pressure of the people’s growing resistance to its failing leadership, that it is now digging into municipal coffers to fund its campaign.

‘The DA will not stand by and watch corruption and gross misuse of municipal resources become the order of the day in the run-up to elections and will therefore submit questions to the executive mayor to ascertain the exact costs of the usage of these vehicles and also to ascertain on whose authority they were made available.”

She said in contrast, a DA government would ensure that the resources of a municipality was used to attract investment and create real jobs and not utilised for self-gain.

Yet again, TCM failed to respond to the query sent through by this paper.