In a reply to a DA parliamentary question, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Pravin Gordhan, revealed that the Buffalo City Metro Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Speaker and the City Manager rented ‘back-up’ cars to the tune of over R1.7 million in the 2014/15 financial year to date.
There is no justifiable reason for these so-called ‘back-up’ cars. In fact, the Minster’s reply demonstrates how Mayor Zukiswa Ncitha and others effectively rented luxury Mercedes Benz vehicles at the equivalent cost of actually purchasing them.
This is the same Mayor who was arrested last year for her involvement in the Nelson Mandela Memorial scandal and for splurging almost R1 million in 2013 on luxury travel and accommodation across the country.
I will write to Minister Gordhan to request that he provide further detail on how he intends to stop this ludicrous and costly practice for good.
It is unacceptable that residents in the Metro receive poor services while the Mayor and her cronies are renting expensive luxury vehicles.
The reply reveals the following costs were incurred on ‘back-up’ cars:
Executive
Rental car
Duration of rental
Rental cost
Mayor
Mercedes Benz ML350/C180
Daily/Monthly basis
R 684 985.72
Deputy Mayor
Mercedes Benz ML500/350
Daily/Monthly basis
R 319 068.31
Speaker
Mercedes Benz ML500/350/E200
Daily/Monthly basis
R 622 466.82
City Manager
Mercedes Benz C180/C200
Three-months basis
(Security reasons cited)
R 168 555.39
Total cost
R 1, 795 049. 24
It is of utmost importance that strict financial procurement measures are adhered to in order to curb this kind of frivolous abuse of public funds.
The DA in the Buffalo City Metro Council will at the next sitting call for a forensic investigation by the Auditor General into whether the use of such vehicles are justified, whether proper procurement procedures were followed and whether this is a duplication of municipal resources. We will also call for a detailed SAPS threat assessment relating to the City Manager’s personal security.
Issued by DA