Buffalo City spends R1.7 million on ‘back-up' car rentals

27 February 2015

In a reply to a DA parliamentary question, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Pravin Gordhan, revealed that the Buffalo City Metro Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Speaker and the City Manager rented ‘back-up' cars to the tune of over R1.7 million in the 2014/15 financial year to date. 

There is no justifiable reason for these so-called ‘back-up' cars. In fact, the Minster's reply demonstrates how Mayor Zukiswa Ncitha and others effectively rented luxury Mercedes Benz vehicles at the equivalent cost of actually purchasing them.

This is the same Mayor who was arrested last year for her involvement in the Nelson Mandela Memorial scandal and for splurging almost R1 million in 2013 on luxury travel and accommodation across the country. 

I will write to Minister Gordhan to request that he provide further detail on how he intends to stop this ludicrous and costly practice for good. 

It is unacceptable that residents in the Metro receive poor services while the Mayor and her cronies are renting expensive luxury vehicles.

The reply reveals the following costs were incurred on ‘back-up' cars:

It is of utmost importance that strict financial procurement measures are adhered to in order to curb this kind of frivolous abuse of public funds.

The DA in the Buffalo City Metro Council will at the next sitting call for a forensic investigation by the Auditor General into whether the use of such vehicles are justified, whether proper procurement procedures were followed and whether this is a duplication of municipal resources. We will also call for a detailed SAPS threat assessment relating to the City Manager's personal security. 

Text of the reply:

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION NO 2015/148

Mr K J Mileham to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs:

(1) Whether any vehicles have been rented for (a) the mayor, (b) the deputy mayor, (c) the speaker, (d) the municipal manager and (e) any other councillor of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality during the 2014-15 financial year; if so, in each case, (i) was the rental once off or long term, (ii) what was the purpose of the rental, (iii) what was the make and model of each vehicle rented, (iv) what was the duration of the rental and (v) what was the total cost of the rental?

REPLY:

(1) According to information received from the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, the response is as follows:

(a) The Executive Mayor:

(i) The rental was on a daily or monthly basis;

(ii) The vehicles were rented as backup car for the Executive Mayor;

(iii) The purpose of the rental was to assist with transportation of the Executive Mayor;

(iv) Mercedes Benz ML 350, Mercedes Benz C180 for the Executive Mayor; and

(v) Cost for rental for the Executive Mayor for the 2014/2015 financial year is R684 985.72.

(b) The Deputy Executive Mayor:

(i) The rental was on a daily or monthly basis;

(ii) The vehicles were rented as backup car for the Deputy Executive Mayor;

(iii) The purpose of the rental was to assist with transportation of the Deputy Executive Mayor;

(iv) Mercedes Benz ML 500, ML 350 for the Deputy Executive Mayor; and

(v) Cost for rental for the Deputy Mayor for the 2014/2015 financial year is R319 068.31.

(c) The Speaker:

(i) The rental was on a daily or monthly basis;

(ii) The vehicles were rented as backup car for the Council Speaker;

(iii) The purpose of the rental was to assist with transportation of the Council Speaker;

(iv) Mercedes Benz ML 500, ML 350, Mercedes Benz E 200 for the Council Speaker; and

(vi) Cost for rental for the Deputy Mayor for the 2014/2015 financial year is R622 466.82.

(d) The City Manager:

(i) The rental is on a three-months basis;

(ii) The vehicles are rented as part of Council approved security arrangements for the City Manager;

(iii) The vehicle categories vary depending on security advice;

(iv) Mercedes Benz C180 or C200 for the City Manager, subject to availability; and

(v) Cost of rental for the City Manager for the 2014/2015 financial year is R168 555.39.

We do not approve of this practice and we will discourage this type of approach in future.

ENDS

Statement issued by Kevin Mileham MP, DA Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, February 27 2015

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