ANC justifies mayor’s R1.1m car

The Polokwane council will buy a R1.1 million Audi Quattro 7 3.0 TDI for executive mayor Thembi Nkadimeng. Photo: Supplied

The Polokwane council will buy a R1.1 million Audi Quattro 7 3.0 TDI for executive mayor Thembi Nkadimeng. Photo: Supplied

Published Jul 1, 2015

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Polokwane - The Polokwane council will buy a R1.1 million Audi Quattro 7 3.0 TDI for executive mayor Thembi Nkadimeng, despite the fact that some rural villages in the municipality still don’t have electricity and running water.

The ANC used its majority in Tuesday’s council sitting to approve the purchase of the luxury vehicle. ANC councillors fiercely shot down any resistance by the opposition.

Chairman of the finance committee Rasepuetja Molepo said the mayor could not be expected to drive in a less expensive car.

“Must we go and buy a car of R100 000 for the mayor? It can’t be,” he said. This was after the DA’s Franco Marx demanded an explanation for the million-rand expenditure. He pointed out that while he supported the buying of the new car, the council should spend less than R700 000.

“How many electricity meters can we install in Mankweng, water meters, electricity, roads, etc with this kind of money?” he asked.

His sentiments were backed by DA colleague Ngako Setjie.

“The greatest communist, Joe Slovo, said ‘when I die, let me go and be buried in Avalon (cemetery), let me be buried in an ordinary coffin’, because the people were his first priority,” he said.

Cope also demanded that the amount be reduced.

The ANC’s Jerry Sello said it was puzzling that the DA was querying the expenditure, as the party had agreed two weeks ago to R1.2m being budgeted for the mayor’s new car.

He said the municipality was spending R1.1m, which was less that the budgeted amount.

Molepo chastised the DA.

“To come here while we are presenting a report that is covered by the budget which they were part of doesn’t make sense,” he said.

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The Star

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