An Eastern Cape mayor has now to use his private car for municipal business after three mayoral vehicles were written off – two while he was driving and a third while his official driver was behind the wheel.
Municipal sources told the Daily Dispatch of a fourth incident involving a state-owned Corsa bakkie. However, Amahlathi municipality mayor Mncekeleli Peter denied being involved.
Peter is now using his privately owned 2006 Toyota Corolla for official business.
In the most recent incident, Peter’s mayoral Toyota Fortuner collided with a stationary vehicle between Bhisho and Kei Road two weeks ago while he was behind the wheel.
“It was a steep curve, at night, raining and the road was wet. There were two vehicles that had collided (earlier) and the car I bumped was standing in the middle of the road trying to assist,” he said.
“When I noticed that there were stationery vehicles, I tried to swerve to avoid hitting a passenger from one of the vehicles. I tried to apply brakes but unfortunately bumped into one of the vehicles.”
In 2012, Peter had stopped his state-owned Nissan X-Trail in the emergency yellow line when a truck collided with the vehicle from behind. The accident took place near Nkobongo village in Amahlathi.
In December 2013, another state-owned Nissan X-Trail collided with a Mercedes-Benz on the N6 outside East London. Peter was a passenger at the time.
Sources alleged Peter was involved in a fourth incident when a municipal Corsa bakkie he was reportedly driving was involved in an accident at the Zeleni cuttings in 2011.
However, the mayor denied knowledge of the incident.
Peter said he regularly drove himself on weekends because his driver was not paid overtime.
He confirmed using his 2006 model Toyota Corolla for official duties.
He also vowed not to drive a municipal vehicle again while still in office, saying his enemies were using his accidents to discredit his name.
“People are fighting for positions ahead of next year’s elections, so I feel my continued use of state vehicles will be used by those who don’t care about my life to destroy me.”
Municipal manager Balisa Socikwa said the Fortuner was towed to King William’s Town, where it was still being assessed by insurance.
Socikwa added that accidents increased the municipality’s insurance premiums.
Contacted for comment, ANC Amathole regional secretary Teris Ntuthu said Peter was one of their “disciplined and dedicated cadres” and that accidents “can happen to anyone as no one plans to have them”. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Mayor uses own car for official work
Municipal sources told the Daily Dispatch of a fourth incident involving a state-owned Corsa bakkie. However, Amahlathi municipality mayor Mncekeleli Peter denied being involved.
Peter is now using his privately owned 2006 Toyota Corolla for official business.
In the most recent incident, Peter’s mayoral Toyota Fortuner collided with a stationary vehicle between Bhisho and Kei Road two weeks ago while he was behind the wheel.
“It was a steep curve, at night, raining and the road was wet. There were two vehicles that had collided (earlier) and the car I bumped was standing in the middle of the road trying to assist,” he said.
“When I noticed that there were stationery vehicles, I tried to swerve to avoid hitting a passenger from one of the vehicles. I tried to apply brakes but unfortunately bumped into one of the vehicles.”
In 2012, Peter had stopped his state-owned Nissan X-Trail in the emergency yellow line when a truck collided with the vehicle from behind. The accident took place near Nkobongo village in Amahlathi.
In December 2013, another state-owned Nissan X-Trail collided with a Mercedes-Benz on the N6 outside East London. Peter was a passenger at the time.
Sources alleged Peter was involved in a fourth incident when a municipal Corsa bakkie he was reportedly driving was involved in an accident at the Zeleni cuttings in 2011.
However, the mayor denied knowledge of the incident.
Peter said he regularly drove himself on weekends because his driver was not paid overtime.
He confirmed using his 2006 model Toyota Corolla for official duties.
He also vowed not to drive a municipal vehicle again while still in office, saying his enemies were using his accidents to discredit his name.
“People are fighting for positions ahead of next year’s elections, so I feel my continued use of state vehicles will be used by those who don’t care about my life to destroy me.”
Municipal manager Balisa Socikwa said the Fortuner was towed to King William’s Town, where it was still being assessed by insurance.
Socikwa added that accidents increased the municipality’s insurance premiums.
Contacted for comment, ANC Amathole regional secretary Teris Ntuthu said Peter was one of their “disciplined and dedicated cadres” and that accidents “can happen to anyone as no one plans to have them”. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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