A motorist whose car was damaged in an accident with a high-speeding council vehicle now has to travel by public transport as the Buffalo City Metro law enforcement hierarchy sends him from pillar to post regarding repairing the vehicle.
On November 25, a council-owned Nissan Hardbody, apparently involved in a high-speed chase involving a drunk driver, rammed into Robert Tshifuta’s Fiat Palio on the T-junction in Billie Road near the Mount Ruth train station.
But the metro has been giving Tshifuta – now stuck and having to make do with public transport – the runaround when it comes to his payment.
He said a law enforcement officer, whom he named, apparently lost control and hit Tshifuta’s car, which is now parked at his Mdantsane home.
“My gripe with the city is how they’ve handled this.
“The officer told me he’d fix the car himself and asked that I not report him to his bosses and give him until the 15th.
“On the 15th he told me he’d done research and his bosses told him that BCM would fix my car,” Tshifuta said.
He said he had been dealing with a senior official.
“[The senior official] told me he’d give the officer a written warning and BCM would cough up and repair my car.
“To date, my car is still parked at home,” Tshifuta said.
He said it seemed the officials were trying to buy time.
What came next was a rude text, Tshifuta said, showing the Dispatch a text supposedly from a senior official.
In capital letters, the text read: “I don’t like pressure, go to you [sic] lawyer.”
Tshifuta says the accident had inconvenienced him as he now has to take two taxis to work and then still walk a distance. “The bumper is totally [damaged], along with the fender, head lamp, radiator, bonnet, indicators and the chassis has bent on the front. The driver’s door is also damaged.”
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya acknowledged the accident involving a council vehicle.
He said the department in question had investigated the matter around the staff code of conduct and would take appropriate action against those implicated.
“In terms of our policy, the city has independent insurers who deal with claims.
“An accident claim that involves a third party has to be processed within three months, failing which the insurers will repudiate the claim due to late notification.
“The accident claiming process also includes filling the necessary forms and strictly adhering to stipulations by all parties involve including obtaining quotations.
“I will strongly advise Mr Tshifuta to ensure that the issue of paperwork from his side is sorted urgently to avoid any further complications.”..