Mayor in hot water over Merc
2006-01-19 20:54
Groblersdal - The executive mayor of one of South Africa's poverty-stricken municipalities seems to be so fond of luxury cars that he ignores the rules to get them.
Dickson Masemola of the Greater Sekhukhune district apparently has taken an unbudgeted and unauthorised amount of R420 000 from council coffers to buy a brand new Mercedes-Benz.
Pan Africanist Congress councillor Gert Masilela has accused Masemola of contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), which stipulates that any politicians or official responsible for wasting public funds should be held personally accountable.
Masilela said: "First of all, Masemola does not deserve a new car because the other one is still in good condition and was bought only two years ago.
"He should held accountable. The council is still waiting for his report on the other car he crashed," he added.
Wrapped one car around a pole
It's not the first time Masemola's irregularly splurged taxpayers' money on new wheels.
In 2003, he unilaterally decided to spend R300 000 on a new Mercedes-Benz sedan after damaging another one worth R250 000 by wrapping it around a pole in Groblersdal.
Masemola has not yet presented a full report to the council regarding the March 2003 accident, in which the car was written off.
Also, Masemola apparently was not authorised to drive the mayoral car himself as he had a full-time chauffeur.
He also failed keep a logbook for all his trips as was required by a council resolution.
Masemola's spokesperson Mike Lekala said on Thursday that he did not have details and would respond at a later stage.
District may be divided up
Greater Sekhukhune district is lagging behind in delivering services such as water and electricity.
The demarcation board has suggested that the district be abolished and that its northern part be incorporated into Limpopo's Capricorn district municipality.
The southern part would go to a new district in Mpumalanga that would include Thaba Chweu in Lydenburg, Groblersdal and Marble Hall.
Parliament has yet to approve or reject the suggestions.