Facebook Question
Compiled FAITH QINGA
Facebook Question: If you had to rule on official transport, how would you decide?
Ndlambe councillors recently debated the type and price of a new vehicle for the mayor’s office. R700,000 is the ceiling. Arguments’included (for): reaching Ndlambe s rural communities means driving on rough roads, ie a 4x4; (against): a different brand of 4x4 would be cheaper than the Audi Q5.
Chrisna Kruger: I would’ve gone with a Toyota which I believe is what they got. The mayoral vehicle is the property of the municipality fleet and stays when mayors change. New vehicle will have service plan so the expenditure on maintenance of a secondhand vs new vehicle was probably a factor as well.
Letieia van der Merwe: Suzuki Jimmy 4x4 - R326,000, fuel efficient. Then the balance of the R700,000 can [go] to: R100,000 to the SPCA and R100,000 to soup kitchen. And balance [to] infrastructure upgrading?
Verona Veltman: Fortuner 4x4 or Toyota 4x4 bakkie. Audi Q5 not suitable for our rural roads. It’s a Sandton4x4.
Marilyn Pattenden: I’ve lived in towns where the mayor has opted to go for a modest family car to free up the budget for necessary items that had been passed over or underfunded during budget negotiations. Made no difference to the mayor’s ability but did wonders for the community who benefited from a downto-earth leader.
Angus Schlemmer: If it took an Audi 120,000 km to become unreliable, how many kilometers would it take the BMW? If she is going to focus on the rural areas, which I doubt, then a Fortuner would be a more logical purchase.
James Rodden: That’s a personal car and choice and therefore the mayor should pay out of her own pocket. It’s not a functional vehicle as she needs a work horse and not a flashy vehicle to show her status to everyone. The Audi vehicle certainly doesn’t help her do her job any better.
Charline Middleditch: Honestly if I were to visit poor, underdeveloped rural areas that I was responsible for ... I would be embarrassed and ashamed of my “rich”status rocking up in overly expensive “company” vehicle. These people need hope, jobs, education and infrastructure like all of us, not empty promises and being lied to by “empty” politicians. Be honourable and humble.