Eastern Cape - The mayor of the OR Tambo municipality in the Eastern Cape allegedly cost the municipality hundreds of thousands of rands in luxury car hire expenses, according to a report on Friday.
Mayor Dingaan Myolwa raked up the costs over two months in car hire costs, accident damages and late return fees, the Dispatch Online reported.
At least seven luxury vehicles were hired at a huge cost by the municipality between October and November last year, the publication reported.
One of the vehicles was a Mercedes-Benz E300 hired on October 5 and returned on October 8 in Durban.
The invoice from Avis Luxury Cars showed that the vehicle travelled 1 080 km and additional charges, including damages to the car and late return, amounted to R188 126. The total cost to the municipality amounted to R224 825.70.
The vehicles were hired despite the municipality owning six mayoral vehicles including a Mercedes Benz ML, Toyota Prado, two Mercedes-Benz E350s and two bakkies for when the mayor travels to rural areas, reported the Dispatch Online.
When contacted for comment by the publication, municipal manager Tshaka Hlazo expressed surprise that the media was in possession of confidential internal documents.
Council chief whip Nolitha Ntobongwana told Dispatch Online that she was not aware of the expenditure.
“I will ask the municipal manager and the mayor for a report on this when I make a follow-up today (Friday).
“As you know when the mayor attends an event he hires a car, but I have not been informed about what you’re asking me about.” - Sapa