Tzaneen - The mayor of Tzaneen’s repossessed R1.2m Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 has been returned to him.
The Sheriff of the Court seized the luxury vehicle after it came to light that the municipality owed a stationery company, Expetera, R100 000.
Municipal spokesperson Neville Ndlala told a News24 correspondent on Thursday that the car was removed on Friday, September 9, due to a misunderstanding between the company and the municipality about a “minor instalment”.
The car was returned on Wednesday after the outstanding R100 000 was paid.
'Smear campaign'
Ndlala said a video crew accompanied the sheriff, which he said was evidence of a smear campaign by opposition parties.
Last week, the Democratic Alliance called on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Makoma Makhurupetje, to investigate the purchase of two vehicles, worth R1.6m, by the Greater Tzaneen Municipality.
DA Limpopo leader, Jacques Smalle, said the Mercedes-Benz and Ford Ranger were apparently bought for current mayor Maripe Mangena, and the speaker and former mayor Dikeledi Mentle.
Ndlala defended the purchase of the mayor's new car. The previous mayor’s car was bought in 2011 and had covered more than 150 000km.
It had been in two accidents and had numerous mechanical breakdowns which cost the municipality over R180 000. Hiring one was also a costly affair.
“The mayor is a first citizen in the municipality and his safety must be prioritised. Sometimes he will go to villages that have potholes or bumpy roads, and his car must be in good condition,” he said.
Ndlala however denied that the municipality had bought the speaker a new car.
“We are not aware of any new vehicle for speaker. The car that the speaker is using was bought in 2014.”
News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/tzaneen-mayor-gets-his-repossessed-car-back-20160915
The Sheriff of the Court seized the luxury vehicle after it came to light that the municipality owed a stationery company, Expetera, R100 000.
Municipal spokesperson Neville Ndlala told a News24 correspondent on Thursday that the car was removed on Friday, September 9, due to a misunderstanding between the company and the municipality about a “minor instalment”.
The car was returned on Wednesday after the outstanding R100 000 was paid.
'Smear campaign'
Ndlala said a video crew accompanied the sheriff, which he said was evidence of a smear campaign by opposition parties.
Last week, the Democratic Alliance called on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Makoma Makhurupetje, to investigate the purchase of two vehicles, worth R1.6m, by the Greater Tzaneen Municipality.
DA Limpopo leader, Jacques Smalle, said the Mercedes-Benz and Ford Ranger were apparently bought for current mayor Maripe Mangena, and the speaker and former mayor Dikeledi Mentle.
Ndlala defended the purchase of the mayor's new car. The previous mayor’s car was bought in 2011 and had covered more than 150 000km.
It had been in two accidents and had numerous mechanical breakdowns which cost the municipality over R180 000. Hiring one was also a costly affair.
“The mayor is a first citizen in the municipality and his safety must be prioritised. Sometimes he will go to villages that have potholes or bumpy roads, and his car must be in good condition,” he said.
Ndlala however denied that the municipality had bought the speaker a new car.
“We are not aware of any new vehicle for speaker. The car that the speaker is using was bought in 2014.”
News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/tzaneen-mayor-gets-his-repossessed-car-back-20160915
