THE controversial Nala local municipality in Free State is unable to get back vehicles it sent in for repairs three years ago.
Two municipal Ford tractors and a Nissan bakkie are at two separate mechanics in Wesselsbron after they were taken there for repairs three years ago.
Another vehicle, a Toyota bakkie, is at the traffic department. It was impounded by traffic officials earlier this year after its licence was found to have expired in 2009.
Sterco Engineers owner Raymond Koster said the municipality had brought the vehicles in to be fixed.
"Since then the municipality has not paid a single cent for me to start working on their tractor and the bakkie. Instead, their officials come here every month to ask for quotations. They will never give me the go-ahead to fix them. Nobody has told me when they were going to pay me to start work."
Koster said the municipality was not cooperative and he is contemplating charging them a storage fee.
Pieter Oberholzer is also demanding payment from the municipality for work he did on their Ford tractor and for its three-year storage period.
"They brought this tractor here in 2009 for me to fix. I stripped it and started working on it. Since then I have not received a cent from the municipality. Their officials come here often and ask for quotations. I am tired of giving out quotations."
The businessman has approached the municipality on numerous occasions, denied payment.
"I have instructed my lawyer to take action against them," he said. "They have not responded to our demand and we have no option but to attach their property to retrieve what is being owed to me."
Sowetan has learnt the municipality is operating on a shoe-string budget.
Another four municipal tractors collecting garbage in Wesselsbron and Bothaville are not roadworthy. They do not have licence discs or number plates.
Employees said they were ordered by their supervisors to use the tractors despite the fact they were not legally permitted to be on the road.
Department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs spokeswoman Senne Bogatsu said the allegations around the situation at Nala will be discussed with the municipality.
"It is, however, to be noted that the municipality has made significant progress overall in managing its affairs subsequent to the KPMG report and the assignment of staff from this department and subsequently the province to turn the situation around."
Nala struggles to pay for vehicle repairs
THE controversial Nala local municipality in Free State is unable to get back vehicles it sent in for repairs three years ago.
Two municipal Ford tractors and a Nissan bakkie are at two separate mechanics in Wesselsbron after they were taken there for repairs three years ago.
Another vehicle, a Toyota bakkie, is at the traffic department. It was impounded by traffic officials earlier this year after its licence was found to have expired in 2009.
Sterco Engineers owner Raymond Koster said the municipality had brought the vehicles in to be fixed.
"Since then the municipality has not paid a single cent for me to start working on their tractor and the bakkie. Instead, their officials come here every month to ask for quotations. They will never give me the go-ahead to fix them. Nobody has told me when they were going to pay me to start work."
Koster said the municipality was not cooperative and he is contemplating charging them a storage fee.
Pieter Oberholzer is also demanding payment from the municipality for work he did on their Ford tractor and for its three-year storage period.
"They brought this tractor here in 2009 for me to fix. I stripped it and started working on it. Since then I have not received a cent from the municipality. Their officials come here often and ask for quotations. I am tired of giving out quotations."
The businessman has approached the municipality on numerous occasions, denied payment.
"I have instructed my lawyer to take action against them," he said. "They have not responded to our demand and we have no option but to attach their property to retrieve what is being owed to me."
Sowetan has learnt the municipality is operating on a shoe-string budget.
Another four municipal tractors collecting garbage in Wesselsbron and Bothaville are not roadworthy. They do not have licence discs or number plates.
Employees said they were ordered by their supervisors to use the tractors despite the fact they were not legally permitted to be on the road.
Department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs spokeswoman Senne Bogatsu said the allegations around the situation at Nala will be discussed with the municipality.
"It is, however, to be noted that the municipality has made significant progress overall in managing its affairs subsequent to the KPMG report and the assignment of staff from this department and subsequently the province to turn the situation around."
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