Buffalo City’s top officials have spent more than R1.7-million renting “back-up” cars in the past eight months, even though ratepayers have already forked out millions buying their luxury state cars.
Details of how mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, her deputy Themba Tinta, council speaker Luleka-Simon-Nzele and the city manager Andile Fani accumulated the R1.795-million bill are contained in parliamentary responses to the Democratic Alliance’s member of parliament Kevin Mileham.
In his written reply, submitted on Friday, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Pravin Gordhan said the cars were rented on a “daily or monthly” basis and were to assist with transportation of the top municipal leaders.
- Ncitha’s rented Mercedes-Benz ML350 and C180s bill totals R684985.72;
- Tinta’s rented Mercedes-Benz ML500s and ML350s totals R319068.31;
- Simon-Ndzele’s rented Mercedes-Benz ML500, ML350 and E200s totals R622466.82; and
- Fani’s rented Mercedes-Benz C180 and C200s totals R168555.39.
Gordhan lambasted the excessive use of public funds, saying car hire would be monitored in future.
“We do not approve of the practice and we will discourage this type of approach in the future,” he said.
The cars ML, C and E classes are all top luxury models in the Mercedes-Benz stable.
DA Cogta spokesman Kevin Mileham slammed the expenditure as a “frivolous abuse of public funds”.
“There is no justifiable reason for these so-called ‘back-up’ cars. In fact, the minister’s reply demonstrates how mayor Zukiswa Ncitha and others effectively rented luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicles at the equivalent cost of actually purchasing them,” Mileham said.
He plans to write to Gordhan requesting details on how he intends to stop “this ludicrous and costly practice for good”.
Ncitha’s spokesman Sibusiso Cindi said the mayor had a bereavement and could not comment.
“I’m currently attending a funeral at the executive mayor’s home. At the moment we cannot attend to you for obvious reasons,” Cindi said.
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi said he was unable to comment as he would not be able to verify the figures on a Sunday.
Attempts to get comment from Fani and Tinta were not successful at the time of writing as their phones went unanswered.
Ndzele referred all questions to Ngesi, saying it was an administrative issue. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
Top officials take EL for R1.7m ride
Details of how mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, her deputy Themba Tinta, council speaker Luleka-Simon-Nzele and the city manager Andile Fani accumulated the R1.795-million bill are contained in parliamentary responses to the Democratic Alliance’s member of parliament Kevin Mileham.
In his written reply, submitted on Friday, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Pravin Gordhan said the cars were rented on a “daily or monthly” basis and were to assist with transportation of the top municipal leaders.
Gordhan lambasted the excessive use of public funds, saying car hire would be monitored in future.
“We do not approve of the practice and we will discourage this type of approach in the future,” he said.
The cars ML, C and E classes are all top luxury models in the Mercedes-Benz stable.
DA Cogta spokesman Kevin Mileham slammed the expenditure as a “frivolous abuse of public funds”.
“There is no justifiable reason for these so-called ‘back-up’ cars. In fact, the minister’s reply demonstrates how mayor Zukiswa Ncitha and others effectively rented luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicles at the equivalent cost of actually purchasing them,” Mileham said.
He plans to write to Gordhan requesting details on how he intends to stop “this ludicrous and costly practice for good”.
Ncitha’s spokesman Sibusiso Cindi said the mayor had a bereavement and could not comment.
“I’m currently attending a funeral at the executive mayor’s home. At the moment we cannot attend to you for obvious reasons,” Cindi said.
BCM spokesman Keith Ngesi said he was unable to comment as he would not be able to verify the figures on a Sunday.
Attempts to get comment from Fani and Tinta were not successful at the time of writing as their phones went unanswered.
Ndzele referred all questions to Ngesi, saying it was an administrative issue. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
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