More fuel was added to the ongoing debate about the mayor's new car when a doubling of the proposed limit on his petrol card was proposed this week.
More fuel was added to the ongoing debate about the mayor's new car when a doubling of the proposed limit on his petrol card was proposed this week.
Makana's new strategic manager Mncedisi Boma caused consternation in a Council meeting on Tuesday when he proposed that the limit on the Mayor's fuel card be R 10 000 – double the initial proposal of R 5 000.
In response to Councillor Les Reynolds's expression of alarm, Councillor Pirya Ranchhod said the policy had been formulated years previously, when petrol cost less, and was due for review. Item No 6 of the Makana's fuel card policy reads: All expenditure incurred on the Municipal Fuel Card will be limited to R 5 000 per month inclusive of VAT.
The car will have to fill 10 tanks of petrol every month to use up the proposed R 10 000. The car has an 18 litre tank. This will cost more or less than R 120 000 a year, depending on the price of petrol. Council Speaker Rachel Madinda-Isaac closed the matter by suggesting that the policy of a R 5 000 limit remain.
Receipts should be submitted if the Mayor had to buy his own fuel, over and above that. We can stay here and debate this a lot, and we don't want this item to be blown out of proportion, let us stick to what the South African citizens expect. If [R5 000] is not enough, [receipts]will prove that, she said.
Municipal spokesperson Mncedisi Boma said the amount of R10 000 had been suggested because the Mayor's vehicle was heavy on fuel. It was not the first time this item has been tabled before council and the Mayor's office needs to have this support.
The amount is not a big deal – we just don't want the Executive Mayor to be inconvenienced, said Boma. He said when the vehicle was bought, there was no policy in place. A policy had been put in place later. Council ruled that the R5 000 limit should remain and that slips and logbook entries could be used to claim more.
Boma said the Mayor's car was old and heavy on fuel. The same policy would apply for the Mayor's new car – the tender for which would be published next week. "The current car is being serviced in Port Elizabeth and we said part of the requirements was that the car should be serviced in the Makana area. As a result of this the old one will be traded in and we will utilise that money to buy the new car. Our view is that the mayor should be able to attend to service delivery issues [without delay]," said Boma.
When asked what would happen to the remainder of the R 800 000 allocated for the car, Boma said, Definitely there will be change. When the car has been bought we will inform the people of Makana what the excess money will be utilised for.
