Stone-broke Enoch Mgijima municipality has spent close to R1m hiring a Volvo SUV for two mayors since December.
Opposition councillors claim they were misinformed by former and current municipal managers Thomas Abrafo, Mzoxolo Dingani and Chris Magwangqana about the cost of having a mayoral Jeep repaired.
All three declined to comment for a week, referring the Dispatch to municipal spokesperson Fundile Feketshane, who has yet to respond.
For a 2017 Volvo XC60 SUV, the municipality paid an average of over R100,000 a month over nine months to Siyawella Travelling.
The Dispatch called Europcar hire, which said hiring the same vehicle from them would cost R35,156 a month, with a deposit of R49 000.
According to a report presented to the municipal finance committee, on December 14 then-acting municipal manager Dingani paid Siyawella R110,358 to hire the Volvo for then-mayor Lindiwe Gunuza-Nkwentsha. Magwangqana continued hiring the Volvo when he took over on January 8.
He paid Siyawella:..