The local DA (Democratic Alliance) is furious over the fact that Musina's first citizen will soon be receiving a brand new Mercedes Benz, despite service delivery backlogs within her district.
According to a statement released by the DA this morning, mayor Mihloti Muhlope is awaiting delivery of her Mercedes SUV ML 350, which was acquired by the council at R1.1 million. Outraged, the DA has written to the Limpopo MEC for Cooperative Governance, Makoma Makhurupetje, to probe the matter.
According to the DA councillor in Musina, Mr Elliot Magwira, they challenged the decision during a council sitting on 25 January. "The ANC arrogantly used its majority and voted in favour of buying a luxury Mercedes for the mayor, rather than committing money to service delivery," Magwira said.
The new vehicle is to be delivered in the following days, but, says Magwira, they hope that the MEC's investigation will stop the transaction completely, so that the money might be spent on improving the lives of Musina's residents.
"The ANC government continues to put ANC cadres' self-interest and luxury first, before the interests of the residents of Musina," said Magwira.
"The money could have been spent on finishing the sports centre in Musina extension 6 in Harper, solving the sanitation crisis in the urban area where water is flowing on the ground whilst all roads that lead to town are damaged with potholes," Magwira added.