Central SA
Free State's millions on luxurious vehicles slammed─── LUCKY NKUYANE 12:28 Fri, 22 Jul 2022
Free State MECs bought nine luxurious vehicles allegedly worth over R7 million in 2021. In an answer to questions posed by a political leader at the Free State Legislature, the MEC for Police, Roads, and Transport confirmed it.
MEC William Bulwane, in his reply to the DA’s Roy Jankielsohn, said “the Department bought seven BMW 5 series vehicles. The MECs for Public Works and Social Development received an Audi Q5 each. Bulwane, in his reply further indicates that as guided by Instruction Note 6 of the National Treasury and Ministerial handbook, the threshold for the procurement of a vehicle is R800 000. Meanwhile, Jankielsohn slammed the purchase of these luxurious vehicles “while 63% of people in the Free State live in poverty”.
He accused the MEC of being self-serving. “The Free State Executive Council remain oblivious to the plight of ordinary people in the province, many of whom do not know where their next meal will be coming from. The MECs who drive in luxurious, state-sponsored vehicles at the expense of taxpayers do not have to worry about damages caused by potholes or the cost of rising fuel prices,” Jankielsohn said.
But the MEC Bulwane has defended the purchase of the new vehicles.
“As guided by Instruction Note 6 of the National Treasury and Ministerial Handbook, the threshold for the procurement of a vehicle is R800 000. Therefore, all vehicles were procured through the National Treasury.
"It [also] depends on what MECs prefer but it should be within the threshold,” Bulwane further replied to Jankielson's questions in the legislature.
