The Democratic Alliance has launched a petition calling on eMalahleni\u2019s executive mayor, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, to reject the purchase of her new luxury vehicle worth R1.5 million.<\/p>\n
It comes a day after the opposition party noted that new ANC mayor of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality splashed out on a \u2018lavish\u2019 Mercedes Benz SUV.<\/p>\n
In contrast the mayor of the DA-led City of Tshwane, Solly Msimanga, on Tuesday put a stop to the purchase and lease of luxury vehicles for politicians.<\/p>\n
No new luxury cars will be bought or leased for politicians in Tshwane, the DA mayor said in a statement.<\/p>\n
If vehicles currently owned by Tshwane require replacement, sensible and low-cost vehicles will be procured.<\/p>\n
\u201cA Hyundai i20 or Toyota Corolla can do the same job for a politician as an expensive sedan,\u201d Msimanga said.<\/p>\n
Read: ANC mayor splashes R1.2 million on a Mercedes Benz SUV days after being elected<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n According to Naritha Naidu, DA Caucus Leader in the eMalahleni Local Council, the money allocated for the purchase of the luxury vehicle for Ntshalintshali, was \u201csaved\u201d from service delivery programmes.<\/p>\n News24<\/a> reported that Mpumalanga\u2019s eMalahleni municipal manager, Theo van Vuuren, asked the eMalahleni council to approve the budget for new vehicle.<\/p>\n Van Vuuren reportedly told the council that Ntshalintshali was using a Lexus that had done 124,813km and its motor plan had expired.<\/p>\n “The DA will now ask residents to sign a petition demanding that the mayor reject the new luxury car. This is the only way she will hear the voices of those she is effectively stealing from,” Naidu said.<\/p>\n “Service delivery in this municipality is at an all-time low with residents having to contend with water and electricity cuts on a regular basis. If Lindiwe Ntshalintshali really cared about delivering to the people that they vowed to serve, any money saved from service delivery projects would have gone into new service delivery projects.”<\/p>\n Tshwane politicians to switch Mercs and BMWs for Hyundais and Toyotas<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n No more blue lights or fancy parties for politicians in Tshwane: DA mayor<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on politics<\/h3>\n