The scandal-prone OR Tambo district municipality has purchased two luxury SUVs for the speaker and deputy mayor.
Deputy mayor Thandekile Sabisa has a new BMW X5 while council speaker Robert Nogumla, whose old Audi Q7 was auctioned for less than R200000 in September, received another Q7.
But municipal spokesman Phendule Mbewu defended the purchases, saying both vehicles had been budgeted for.
While the municipality did not provide the cost of the two cars, dealerships spoken to priced them at above R800000 each. Adding extras to the vehicles can inflate the prices to more than R1-million.
Sabisa and Nogumla had been using top-of-the-range hired sedans before the new vehicles were delivered.
District mayor Nomakhosazana Meth is also hiring vehicles while her Mercedes-Benz ML is waiting for repairs.
Meth came under fire earlier this year after the Daily Dispatch revealed she had used more than R400000 of taxpayers money hiring vehicles.
At the time Meth defended her actions as her official vehicle was in for repairs.
Her predecessor, Dingaan Myolwa, was booted from the position after he incurred similar costs on car hire and damages.
Sabisa has previously come in for criticism while mayor of Mhlontlo municipality. The cash-strapped rural municipality bought him a Mercedes-Benz ML worth R800000.
Nogumla got into trouble in 2006 when he was a member of parliament – he was among the MPs who claimed thousands of rands in mileage in what was termed the travelgate scandal.
Nogumla pleaded guilty of defrauding the state of R170000. He was sentenced to a fine of R90000 or five years imprisonment suspended for five years.
Mbewu said it was the responsibility of the municipality to provide suitable, safe and durable vehicles for political office-bearers. “This is to ensure that they are able to execute their responsibilities,” he said.
The municipality, according to Mbewu, had selected the cheapest service provider for the two SUVs. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
ORT officials receive new luxury vehicles
Deputy mayor Thandekile Sabisa has a new BMW X5 while council speaker Robert Nogumla, whose old Audi Q7 was auctioned for less than R200000 in September, received another Q7.
But municipal spokesman Phendule Mbewu defended the purchases, saying both vehicles had been budgeted for.
While the municipality did not provide the cost of the two cars, dealerships spoken to priced them at above R800000 each. Adding extras to the vehicles can inflate the prices to more than R1-million.
Sabisa and Nogumla had been using top-of-the-range hired sedans before the new vehicles were delivered.
District mayor Nomakhosazana Meth is also hiring vehicles while her Mercedes-Benz ML is waiting for repairs.
Meth came under fire earlier this year after the Daily Dispatch revealed she had used more than R400000 of taxpayers money hiring vehicles.
At the time Meth defended her actions as her official vehicle was in for repairs.
Her predecessor, Dingaan Myolwa, was booted from the position after he incurred similar costs on car hire and damages.
Sabisa has previously come in for criticism while mayor of Mhlontlo municipality. The cash-strapped rural municipality bought him a Mercedes-Benz ML worth R800000.
Nogumla got into trouble in 2006 when he was a member of parliament – he was among the MPs who claimed thousands of rands in mileage in what was termed the travelgate scandal.
Nogumla pleaded guilty of defrauding the state of R170000. He was sentenced to a fine of R90000 or five years imprisonment suspended for five years.
Mbewu said it was the responsibility of the municipality to provide suitable, safe and durable vehicles for political office-bearers. “This is to ensure that they are able to execute their responsibilities,” he said.
The municipality, according to Mbewu, had selected the cheapest service provider for the two SUVs. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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