Vehicle purchase ‘ blown out of proportion’
Greater Tzaneen Mayor, Maripe Mangena, whose official vehicle was repossessed recently, says fellow comrades are baying for his blood.
LIMPOPO – The Mercedes-Benz GLE 350, valued at R1,2 million, was attached by the Sheriff of the Court last Wednesday.
Limpopo DA leader, Jacques Smalle, wants the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Makoma Makhurupetje, to do a forensic audit into the municipality’s finances.
Smalle said the municipality is drowning in debt in excess of R20 million, yet vehicles of more than R1,7 per unit was purchased, including a new Ford Ranger for the Speaker.
“The DA welcomes the sheriff’s actions as we believe the taxpayers’ money which was used to purchase these vehicles, was fruitless and wasteful expenditure,” Smalle said.
“We cannot accept that the new administration works to enrich themselves while those they are meant to serve, have nothing. To this end, we will submit a motion of no confidence against the mayor in the next council meeting and ensure all officials implicated in this fruitless expenditure are held accountable,” he continued.
For Mangena, however, the purchase of the vehicle was blown out of proportion with the intent to tarnish his image.
Mangena spoke about the matter at the funeral of a 17-year-old learner who was stabbed and killed by a classmate at Gwambeni High School in Xihoko village outside Tzaneen.
“There are some comrades in my chambers who have made a deal with the devil to tarnish my image and to create enemies for me. I also know there are senior officials within the municipality hell-bent on seeing my exit. This is dangerous and has the potential to put my life at risk,” Mangena told CV.
ANC Mopani Regional Secretary, Baisekopo Makamo, said Mangena should come to terms that he cannot be loved by everyone and that he will not be hated by everyone.
Greater Tzaneen Municipality Spokesperson, Naville Ndlala, justified the purchase of the vehicle saying the former mayor’s vehicle was bought in 2011 and had in excess of 150km on the clock.
Ndlala said the vehicle had numerous mechanical breakdowns which resulted in costs in excess of R180 000.
“That, along with the high costs involved of renting a vehicle for the mayor when his vehicle was in for repairs, made for high costs,” Ndlala said. “The new vehicle will save the municipality money.
The Salga handbook allows for the replacement of the mayor’s official vehicle if it has exceeded 150 000 km, “the mileage on the previous vehicle stood at 173 000 km,” he said.
According to Ndlala, the luxury vehicle needed to be an all terrain model, “considering the terrain we operate in”.
He said it was misleading for the DA to suggest that buying a vehicle for a mayor is wasteful and fruitless expenditure.
“The expenditure might be irregular, but it is far from wasteful or fruitless. The purchase was done above board.
“The cost of the vehicle does not exceed the amount allowed for the purchase of vehicles for mayors,” he continued.
Regarding the purchase of the Speaker’s vehicle, Nkala said the municipality was not aware of the purchase.
“We have a vehicle which was bought in 2014 to transport the Speaker. That vehicle is still in good condition and available for official use,” he said.
Nkala ascribed the attachment and subsequent removal of the mayoral vehicle to miscommunication between the municipality, the sheriff and municipality’s legal representative.
“The matter has since been resolved and all monies owed were paid immediately. We are disappointed in the manner in which the sheriff handled the removal of the mayoral vehicle, firstly by bringing along a journalist with a video camera and secondly by refusing to afford the municipality a mere 15 minutes to effect the payment of monies owed. We have a strong view that the actions of the sheriff were orchestrated to embarrass the municipality and its leadership,” he said.
He said the vehicle was returned within an hour of the payment being effected.
“The removal of the vehicle did not in any way affect the schedule nor the programme of the mayor. The mayor is currently attending a week long induction with fellow councillors and was not using the vehicle at the time of the incident,” said Ndlala.
Read more:
Tzaneen municipality defends mayor’s R1.2m Mercedes Benz
‘New ANC mayor spoils himself with flashy Merc’
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