Mayor demands new car

2006-04-18 08:06

Delmas - The new mayor of Delmas Jack Rapatsa has barely settled into public office but has already alarmed his own comrades and opposition councillors with an inclination for extravagance.

Rapatsa has budgeted R800 000 for a new mayoral sedan, and his inauguration next month is set to cost R145 000.

African National Congress' (ANC) councillors spoke on condition of anonymity but they pulled no punches about Rapatsa's apparent self-interest.

The councillors alleged that Rapatsa himself demanded that the mayoral car budget be included in the Integrated Development Programme (IDP) of the municipality, a copy of which was leaked to the media this week.

Rapatsa's comrades argue that a R250 000 mayoral Mercedes Benz that was used by previous mayors - Juby Makhabane and Thamsanqa Matosa - was still in good condition and that this money should instead be spent on pressing community needs such as upgrading water pump stations and buying tractors for refuse removal or to compensate victims of last year's typhoid outbreak.

Old mayoral car in a good condition

Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Barry Chamberlain concurred with the concerned ANC councillors.

"The old mayoral car has just been installed with a new engine, and it's in a good condition," said Chamberlain. "Some members of the community are still using bucket toilets, and this money could go a long way in building proper toilets."

Attempts to get comment from Rapatsa and municipal manager Tefo Kadi were unsuccessful. Delmas municipal spokesperson Oupa Segone declined to comment because the council offices had been closed as of 10:00 on Thursday for the Easter Weekend.

A large portion of the R145 000 for Rapatsa's inauguration money, or R80 000, will be spent on food and drinks alone. Another R20 000 has been allocated to hire a stage.

Previous mayors who've taken the extravagant route have lost their positions.

Former Gert Sibande district executive mayor Busi Mdluli resigned in 2004 after auditors exposed her for using two cellular phones at taxpayers' expense, running up a bill of R113 600.

Mdluli also splurged R172 000 on luxury rental cars for herself despite already driving a fully-sponsored council-issue Mercedes Benz.

Former Lekwa mayor Louis Thabethe was fired after he was accused of embezzling taxpayer's money to buy tyres for his car and pay funeral expenses for relatives.

Rapatsa's predecessor Juby Makhabane unceremoniously stepped down in 2003 after a damning forensic audit report revealed that R170 000 went missing from his mayoral discretionary fund.

Former Govan Mbeki executive mayor in Secunda Mdibanisi Tsheke was not re-appointed to the top position after the March 1 elections following revelations that he also splurged money from the mayoral discretionary fund.

- African Eye