The cash-strapped Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality is being investigated by the office of the public protector and the provincial co-operative governance department after it approved the purchase of a R1.2m BMW X3 for mayor Madoda Papiyana.
The purchase raised eyebrows among opposition councillors after it emerged the price exceeded the R750,000 ceiling outlined in the mayoral handbook.
The council approved the car despite the municipality’s spending being under a strict intervention from the provincial and national governments for three years due to financial mismanagement.
New EFF councillor Luthando Amos wrote to public protector Kholeka Gcaleka on May 28 calling for a full investigation and remedial action.
Amos also called for an investigation into the municipality’s debt to Eskom that had soared from R333m in 2018 to R1.6bn in 2025.
On Friday, Amos said they wanted the public watchdog to investigate whether the procurement of the vehicle was within the prescripts of the law.
“We want everything to be done by the book and we want to know if there has been the transgression of any laws in Enoch Mgijima concerning the procurement of the mayoral vehicle.
“We have information that with included extras, the value of the car could go to R1.6m.”
Meanwhile, provincial co-operative governance spokesperson Pheello Oliphant said they would send a team of officials to investigate the purchase of the car “shortly”.
Oliphant said in terms of National Treasury 2019 guidelines, which have not been revised, vehicle specifications for the mayor and speaker were for an SUV.
As of 2019, the ceiling for a mayoral car was still R750,000.
“The vehicle shall be suitable to be used in rural terrain [gravel roads] and in urban settings. The size of the vehicle shall be medium to large with a limited capacity of four passengers, excluding the driver.”
He conceded that the National Treasury had not, by 2025, revised/reviewed the book values of the mayor and speaker’s vehicles “to be commensurate with today’s economic circumstances”.
“A vehicle allowance of R750,000 in 2019 should have increased by 2025, taking into account the factors listed above.
“Cogta will promptly follow up the matter with the municipality.”
Municipal spokesperson Lonwabo Kowa said since taking office, Papiyana had not had a car for his official use and had been using his personal car to run municipal operations. He had not claimed any reimbursement.
He said the decision to buy the BMW was taken by the council, as per the mayoral handbook.
Previously, Papiyana was driving a Toyota Fortuner SUV which is said to have exceeded its mileage limit.
Kowa further said all vehicle supply chain processes were followed and the car was bought in February through the transport department’s transversal contract.
The municipality’s chief operations director, Aphiwe Mkangelwa, said they had to rely on quotations received from the National Treasury.
“When you check municipal vehicles for cutting across municipalities you won’t get vehicles for that particular amount. It is an old regulation.”
Public protector spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe confirmed receiving the complaint.
UDM councillor Mthuthuzeli Hokolo said a lack of consequence management at the municipality made it prone to corruption.
Daily Dispatch
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