The cost: R50,162 monthly
THE cash-strapped Mhlontlo Municipality has paid more than R100,000 to hire a Mercedes-Benz car for the new mayor - while the mayoral car has been collecting dust for two months at an East London dealership.
Mhlontlo mayor Thandekile Sabiso hired the C180 sedan about two months ago, a few days after being sworn in as mayor.
The mayoral car – a white Toyota Land Cruiser Prado – had been booked in for service at East London's Buffalo Toyota.
The dealership wrote to Mhlontlo Municipality informing them that the car was ready for collection as far back as June 30, with the service bill at R3,765. A routine service was conducted and brakes and disc pads replaced.
Instead of collecting the Prado, the municipality continued paying a R50,162 monthly bill for the hired car.
The bill will hit the R150,000 mark if the car is not returned by September 6.
The Prado, with a leather interior, was used by former mayor Madodana Socikwa.
The United Democratic Movement, the official opposition in Mhlontlo council, is now calling for Sabiso’s head, saying what he was doing was "ridiculous and unacceptable".
According to research conducted by the European Consultants’ Org anisation in 2009, the municipality suffers from poor provision of basic services such as water, electricity, sanitation and refuse removal, and that access to healthcare facilities is limited.
Its unemployment rate stands at 71%, poverty rate at 76.9% and 40.5% of households in the municipality survive on an average income of R1,000 a month.
Auditor-General (AG) Terrence Nombembe listed Mhlontlo among the province’s 15 worst performing municipalities, according to last month’s audit outcomes, having received a disclaimer – meaning he was unable to obtain sufficient and appropriate audit evidence to provide an audit opinion.
UDM leader in the municipality, Zakheni Nondaka said: "It is wrong and irregular for Sabiso to use a hired vehicle at such exorbitant costs while the people continue to suffer".
The municipality , with a population of 238,000, encompasses the poverty-stricken rural villages of Qumbu and Tsolo.
Nondaka confirmed that all was not well at Mhlontlo, listing poverty, poor infrastructure and poor municipal administration as the worst.
Jackson Tyala of Qumbu funeral parlour said there were regular water cuts in their area, which affected their business badly. Tyala said there were times they were forced to collect water from nearby rivers to wash bodies kept at the parlour because of water cuts.
Dispatch
.
Poor town hires luxury car for mayor
The cost: R50,162 monthly
THE cash-strapped Mhlontlo Municipality has paid more than R100,000 to hire a Mercedes-Benz car for the new mayor - while the mayoral car has been collecting dust for two months at an East London dealership.
Mhlontlo mayor Thandekile Sabiso hired the C180 sedan about two months ago, a few days after being sworn in as mayor.
The mayoral car – a white Toyota Land Cruiser Prado – had been booked in for service at East London's Buffalo Toyota.
The dealership wrote to Mhlontlo Municipality informing them that the car was ready for collection as far back as June 30, with the service bill at R3,765. A routine service was conducted and brakes and disc pads replaced.
Instead of collecting the Prado, the municipality continued paying a R50,162 monthly bill for the hired car.
The bill will hit the R150,000 mark if the car is not returned by September 6.
The Prado, with a leather interior, was used by former mayor Madodana Socikwa.
The United Democratic Movement, the official opposition in Mhlontlo council, is now calling for Sabiso’s head, saying what he was doing was "ridiculous and unacceptable".
According to research conducted by the European Consultants’ Org anisation in 2009, the municipality suffers from poor provision of basic services such as water, electricity, sanitation and refuse removal, and that access to healthcare facilities is limited.
Its unemployment rate stands at 71%, poverty rate at 76.9% and 40.5% of households in the municipality survive on an average income of R1,000 a month.
Auditor-General (AG) Terrence Nombembe listed Mhlontlo among the province’s 15 worst performing municipalities, according to last month’s audit outcomes, having received a disclaimer – meaning he was unable to obtain sufficient and appropriate audit evidence to provide an audit opinion.
UDM leader in the municipality, Zakheni Nondaka said: "It is wrong and irregular for Sabiso to use a hired vehicle at such exorbitant costs while the people continue to suffer".
The municipality , with a population of 238,000, encompasses the poverty-stricken rural villages of Qumbu and Tsolo.
Nondaka confirmed that all was not well at Mhlontlo, listing poverty, poor infrastructure and poor municipal administration as the worst.
Jackson Tyala of Qumbu funeral parlour said there were regular water cuts in their area, which affected their business badly. Tyala said there were times they were forced to collect water from nearby rivers to wash bodies kept at the parlour because of water cuts.
Dispatch
.
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