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Musina mayor makes U-turn on purchase of R1.1m Merc

A Limpopo mayor has decided to use her private vehicle and redirect the R1.1-million meant to purchase a mayoral vehicle towards service delivery.

Mayor for the Musina Local Municipality Mihloti Ethel Muhlope said she would approach council to have the R1.1-million budgeted to buy her a state vehicle redirected towards service delivery.

Her statement follows a previous complaint by the Democratic Alliance (DA) that purchasing the Mercedes Benz SUV would amount to "wasteful expenditure".

However, Muhlope said she took the decision due to the municipality's financial situation.

"I further put it on record that the use of the rental vehicle that we were making use of to assist me in executing my official duties shall be immediately suspended and I will make use of my personal vehicle," she said.

According to Muhlope, the decision to buy a new car was informed by the fact that the municipality did not have a mayoral car because the old one was no longer usable.

"I have volunteered to set a positive example that we can steer the municipality to achieve its goals despite limited resources," she stated.

However, DA councillor Elliot Magwira said Muhlope's decision was not genuine as Muhlope had arrogantly voted in favour of the purchase of the vehicle despite objections from the opposition.

"That decision was not voluntary but due to pressure from the opposition."

He said Musina had serious service delivery challenges including poor infrastructure, late payment of service providers and a high electricity debt which need urgent attention.

Magwira said they were not disputing that there was a need for a mayoral car but rather it should have been a cheaper option.

However, municipality spokesman Wilson Dzebu said the DA was trying to score political points. "The mayor said she is doing this voluntarily. There is no other pressure," Dzebu said. - mahopoz@sowetan.co.za

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