QUEENSTOWN – Madoda Papiyana, the mayor of the Enoch Mgijima local municipality (EMLM), is facing a barrage of criticism following the purchase of a BMW M3 sedan valued at a hefty R1.2 million. The purchase has ignited outrage, particularly given the municipality's dire financial straits and its current status under government administration.
Insiders have revealed that the purchase exceeds the stipulated R700,000 threshold for such acquisitions, raising serious questions about financial prudence. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that the municipality is already struggling with a severe cash shortage, prioritising worker's salaries over essential services, and even resorting to cutting off electricity to customers to cover costs.
Adding to the controversy, it has emerged that the mayor previously had use of a Toyota Fortuner, which was reportedly replaced after exceeding its mileage limit. Critics argue that the cost of maintaining a BMW X3 SUV is significantly higher than that of a Toyota Fortuner SUV, further exacerbating the financial burden on the already strained municipality.
UDM councillor for EMLM, Mthuthuzeli Hokolo, voiced his concerns about the exceeded threshold, stating, "We were told that the mayor had been using his own car, which made us seem unappreciative of that despite him never having told the council that he was using his own car. The mayor stated that the 120,000km he had clocked up on his Toyota Fortuner had exceeded the limit."
Hokolo questioned the justification for purchasing a more expensive vehicle compared to the previous one, which was not above the threshold amount. "He spent about 45 minutes in a council meeting trying to rationalise the vehicle issue. He said something about his car being damaged," Hokolo added.
While legislation permits the mayor to have use of a state vehicle, Hokolo's primary concern lies with the new car's exorbitant cost. "As much as the legislation allows him to purchase a car, given the municipality’s struggles with service delivery, pothole-riddled streets, and non-functional traffic lights… This is a reflection that the municipality is looking after the interest of the mayor rather than the people he is leading," he asserted.
Hokolo further emphasised that the mayor should have considered the municipality's financial woes and service delivery failures before proceeding with the vehicle purchase. He also alleged that the mayor made the decision to purchase the car without consulting the council.
DA's Enoch Mgijima constituency leader and MPL, Chantel King, confirmed that she had been informed by her council about the controversy surrounding the mayor's luxury vehicle. King has since submitted questions to the MEC of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), Zolile Williams, seeking clarity on the matter.
"The DA councillors will be putting forward a motion for an investigation into the purchase of the vehicle in council. The municipality’s R1.2bn debt to Eskom makes the purchase unjustifiable, especially given the previous vehicle’s condition," King stated.
She further criticised the purchase, stating, "The purchasing of a luxury vehicle while infrastructure is failing and the municipality is under administration, raises concerns about the effectiveness of the administrators in preventing such purchases."
In response to the mounting criticism, EMLM spokesperson Lonwabo Kowa defended the purchase, stating that the vehicle was procured through National Treasury’s transversal contract, a process designed to ensure cost savings and compliance with procurement regulations.
"A comprehensive report on the purchase was duly tabled before council. Since assuming office in December 2022, the executive mayor has been using his personal vehicle for official duties and has not submitted any claims for travel expenses, thereby saving municipal funds at his own expense," Kowa explained.
Kowa also clarified that, "contrary to some incorrect claims, the vehicle is not a sedan but a sport utility vehicle (SUV) which made it more practical to navigate local roads."
He added, "This choice was deliberate, as the vehicle is well-suited for the varied and often challenging road conditions across the Enoch Mgijima area."
Mayor Papiyana himself has weighed in on the controversy, stating, "Today, I am not using the car as we speak, I am using my own car. I have been using my cars for the past two years and I have claimed nothing back. I have been paying for fuel and I have been servicing the car."
Papiyana sought to defend his actions by comparing his vehicle's price to those of other mayors in the district, asserting, "my car has the most reasonable price." He further claimed that AB Xuma and Intsika Yethu mayors were driving vehicles costing R1.7m and above.
Papiyana also stated that he had followed the standards set by the late former finance minister Tito Mboweni on what type of vehicle should be used for his portfolio.
