GMM to buy a new car for mayor

The Govan Mbeki Municipality will buy a new car for its executive mayor, Nhlakanipho Zuma. The mileage reading of the mayor’s current BMW X3 has reached 230 000km, which is according to the municipal manager, Eliot Maseko, against regulation.

According to the Government Gazette, the threshold limit for vehicle purchases relating to official use by political office-bearers must not exceed R700 000 or 70% (VAT inclusive) of the total annual remuneration package of the office-bearer.

Maseko informed councillors attending the council meeting at Secunda on February 29 that the mayor uses his vehicle as a ‘tool of trade’, as the laptops provided to councillors. Opposition parties are opposed to forking out money for a new mayoral car. They are unified in their belief that the money could be spent better on service delivery.

The ARP Clr and party president, John Mahlangu, said residents in informal settlements don’t have water, yet the municipality wants to buy an expensive car for the mayor.

“We are faced with serious service delivery challenges. How about putting that R700 000 on service delivery other than buying one person a car?”

Mahlangu called it ‘unfortunate’ that the municipal manager said the item was tabled in council merely to be acknowledged, and not to be adopted.

James Masango from the DA said his party strongly condemns this decision to buy a car for the mayor.
He claims the municipality is bankrupt and unable to pay its creditors.

“Service delivery in GMM is at its poorest or nonexistent in some areas. Residents are daily experiencing no water or electricity. Many roads and streets are dilapidated and life-threatening to many road users.

“We believe the current vehicle is still in good condition and can be used for the remainder of the mayor’s term.

“We are therefore appealing to the accounting officer to refrain from buying a new car. The money can be used to render services to the people of GMM,” said Masango.

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Wilson Chauke, the EFF councillor said his party is not in support of the municipality to buy a new car for Zuma.

“That car is still in good condition and the mayor travels everywhere without hindrances.”

As the council, we never hear that he is stuck somewhere with this vehicle and we believe this is about luxury, not work.

“We blocked them from stealing the institution’s money from the other side when we stopped them from giving

Machite R15m for the electrical components. Now they want to buy a car.

“We even recently stopped them from renting a yellow fleet for service delivery while we buy fleet every year,” said Chauke.