Mogalakwena Mayor’s luxury SUV vandalised
Mayor Andrina Matsemela's brand new Mercedes-Benz GLE350d was vandalised the night before she was supposed to take delivery of the vehicle.
MOKOPANE – The R1,2 million Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) spent the night at Mokopane’s fire brigade where paint was seemingly partly removed with acid.
Two other vehicles from the traffic department were also targeted.
Bosveld reported back in May that Matsemela would receive a new vehicle at the cost of R1 million despite extreme poverty and a lack of service delivery in and around town.
Marcelle Maritz, Limpopo Leader of the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) told Bosveld the next morning on the crime scene that she questions the apparent lack of safety and control measures at the fire brigade.
“This is a very big concern to me that any person can walk into the fire station at night and damage vehicles, then walk out undisturbed. I’m not going to leave this matter here. After the police finalised their investigation, I will take it further. I notified the Traffic and Emergency Committee that I will definitely investigate how many guards there should be and where these guards were that night. Someone should answer for this.”
Maritz said traffic officers discovered a substance smeared on the SUV.
Korny Dekker, a DA councillor at Mogalakwena Municipality, is furious.
“After we [the DA] opposed the request of Mogalakwena Municipality to buy an expensive vehicle of R1 million for the mayor, they still went ahead and bought an even more expensive vehicle of R1,2 million.
“I suppose this time the mayor went too far and the community is tired of her promises.
“I suspect that is the reason behind the vandalism of her vehicle and also the reason why she applied for six security guards – she feels threatened.”
Andries Sebanda, Acting Head of the Traffic and Emergency Department, did not answer Bosveld’s queries on the scene.
redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za
