SIU tackles purchase of R700k luxury mayoral vehicle

A stuggling Eastern Cape is in trouble for purchasing another luxury car for its mayor for R700 000 just over two years after buying a R650 000 vehicle for the previous mayor.

The latest purchase by the Ngqushwa local municipality is listed as the “supply and delivery of mayoral SUV luxury vehicles” from NTT Motors East London in May last year in municipal documents seen by the Sunday Independent.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has granted the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) the green light to tackle corruption in the small Eastern Cape municipality after the mayor irregularly bought a car worth R700 000.

The current mayor is Sanga Maneli, and his predecessor, Daniswa Ncanywa, bought the R665 000 luxury vehicle around December 2020 and January 2021 using funds set aside for the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The white Audi Q5 was bought despite the municipality having an already existing black Mercedes-Benz SUV, which was delivered soon after the 2016 local government elections.

According to the municipality, it was searching for a five-door automatic luxury vehicle with a two- or three-litre diesel engine complete with leather upholstery, rain sensor wipers, electric folding mirrors, an on-board trip computer, multi-function steering wheel controls, alloy wheels, climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, and electronically adjustable suspension, among other specifications.

According to the proclamation authorising the SIU to probe the purchase, the corruption-busting unit will investigate whether the procurement of, or contracting for goods, works, or services by or on behalf of the municipality in relation to the supply and delivery of mayoral SUV luxury vehicles by or on behalf of the municipality and payments was not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, or cost-effective.

The investigation will also look into whether the purchase was contrary to applicable legislation, manuals, guidelines, practice notes, circulars, or instructions issued by the National Treasury or the Provincial Treasury, including those applicable to the municipality, and whether it incurred unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditures or suffered losses.

The SIU hopes to uncover any irregular, improper, or unlawful conduct by the applicable service providers or any other person or entity relating to the allegations.

Also being probed by the SIU is the completion of phase 1 upgrade of the New Creation Sports Field, which was awarded to MVI Construction at a cost of over R9m in February this year.

The municipality had also issued a tender upgrade of New Creation Sports Field phase 1 in 2022/23.

The proclamation states that allegations falling under the SIU’s scope have been made in respect of the affairs of the Ngqushwa local municipality and that it may have suffered losses that may be recovered.

”And whereas I deem it necessary that the said allegations should be investigated and civil proceedings emanating from such investigation should be adjudicated upon,” Ramaphosa’s proclamation explained.

The SIU will investigate any alleged serious maladministration in connection with the municipality’s affairs, improper or unlawful conduct by its employees, unlawful appropriation or expenditure of public money or property, as well as any unlawful, irregular, or unapproved acquisitive act, transaction, measure, or practice having a bearing upon state property.

It will also tackle intentional or negligent loss of public money or damage to public property and offences in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act and unlawful or improper conduct by any person, which has caused or may cause serious harm to the interests of the public, which took place between January 2019 and last month.

Offences committed prior to January 2019 or last month but are relevant to, connected with, incidental or ancillary to the matters probed or involve the same persons, entities, or contracts will also form part of the investigation, including the recovery of any losses suffered by the municipality or the state.