Mayor’s plans to buy new car not in reverse gear

There is no truth to the press release from the Democratic Alliance that the decision to buy a car for the Executive Mayor, Cllr Lindiwe Ntshalintshali had been cancelled.

The rumour spread through social media like a Formula one car in full throttle.
The municipality reacted to the rumours and in a statement the municipal spokesperson Mr Lebohang Mofokeng said,

“The municipality wants to caution this noticeable approach to make statements which are not well founded on facts or twisted for a specific purpose. The statement by the Democratic Alliance has been made without verifying the facts with the municipality. The Executive Mayor during her inauguration address on September 16 discussed issues regarding cost, specifications and processes and that the municipality will continue to replace the official council vehicle when required.”

Mofokeng set the record straight and said,

“No car has been bought to date. Council has given approval that a process to replace the car can be commenced with. Only council can rescind its decisions and no such resolution has been made. The municipality will continue to appoint a specification committee to determine specifications for a replacement vehicle.”

Cllr Lindiwe Ntshalintshali wants to buy a new car while service delivery is at an all time low. (Photo: Chrisuné Vermeulen).

He said the value of the vehicle will depend on the specifications and the reaction from those who tender. Its maximum has been determined by council.

After two weeks revving resident’s tempers in the red, council now said when the current vehicle reach its maximum allowed kilometres, it will be replaced, but, it will also at that point depend on availability of funds. The time frame for this has not been determined but can be within the next two to four months.

“The impression is also still presented that money is diverted away from service delivery and that the municipality is squandering funds. The municipality has actually been transparent in reporting the sources and specifically has not diverted any funds from the service delivery budget,” was Mofokeng’s reaction.

Mpumalanga Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs spokesman George Mthethwa on Tuesday, September 20 said one must understand that the car was not bought yet.

“The council has set up a committee to look into this matter. This includes the prize of the vehicle, before a final decision can be taken.”

Residents were livid when the municipal manager, Mr Theo van Vuuren said the vehicle will be financed from savings identified from the rollover budget.

The rollover budget comes to R1 572 728 and that was the benchmark set for the new vehicle. Money was left in the coffers from a town planning establishment R61 028, spatial planning R317 245, Empumelelweni Phase 3 R222 994, land purchase R230 555, upgrading and refurbish Rietspruit wastewater treatment plant R114 039, light duty vehicles R66 555, replace steel pipes Kamgewane R192 761, the upgrading and refurbishment of the dam pump station R67 551, construction of return ponds Emalahleni water R30 000, ride on scrabble R230 000 and the establishments of service centres R40 000.

“The impression is also still presented that money is diverted away from service delivery and that the municipality is squandering funds. The municipality has actually been transparent in reporting the sources and specifically has not diverted any funds from the service delivery budget,” Mofokeng fired back.

Not letting service delivery become a spare wheel, the Democratic Alliance embarked on an initiative to get as many as possible signatures on a petition calling on Cllr Ntshalintshali to reject the purchase of her new luxury vehicle.

Cllr Naritha Naidu, DA Caucus Leader said this petition follows the poor leadership displayed by the Emalahleni Municipality by defending an immoral decision to buy a luxury vehicle for the mayor with money intended for service delivery.

“This is the only way she will hear the voices of those she is effectively stealing from. Service delivery in this municipality is at an all-time low with residents having to contend with water and electricity cuts on a regular basis. If Cllr Ntshalintshali really cared about delivering to the people that they vowed to serve, any money saved from service delivery projects would have gone into new service delivery projects,” Cllr Naidu said.

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