Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Anelia Smit.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Nketoana Local Municipality is opposed to the procurement of a brand-new vehicle for the Mayor.
In a council meeting held last week, the DA received a report on the current Mayoral car, a BMW 4 Series F36 420D, and another report on all municipal vehicles and the yellow fleet. The two reports have contradicting information.
According to a municipal report, it will require R 152 345,000.00 (152 million) to repair. The report on the mayoral car states that the car is not in a good condition, with rims and tyres damaged, body repairs and painting being needed and will require a ridiculous amount to fix its mechanical problems. However, the second report on all mayoral vehicles states that the car is in fair condition and just needs maintenance and gearbox replacement.
After learning about the discrepancies, the DA requested to have a thorough “in loco” inspection of the vehicle. When we arrived to inspect the vehicle, we found it to be in good condition, the tyres and rims are brand new, the body and paint seem new, and the interior is perfect. We were informed that it has no battery but the car starts and moves and the only problem is a gear selector.
With service delivery collapsing and living costs rising, ANC officials living a lavish lifestyle in the face of so much poverty and desperation among our residents cannot be right. We believe that fixing the gearbox and getting the car back on the road will be more cost-effective. Instead of relying on service providers who charge millions per month, the money saved can be used to purchase a new refuse collection truck.
The DA in Nketoana will make sure that our taxpayers’ funds are not wasted on lavish lifestyles and unaffordable vehicles. With fuel and food prices spiralling out of control, our communities will welcome a little relief. The DA is committed to bringing change across the country and therefore urges all residents to register to vote in the 2024 National and Provincial Government elections.