MAYOR WON’T GIVE BACK FIRM’S CAR

A LIMPOPO municipality boss continues to use a service provider’s car despite an advice to return the vehicle to its owner.

Bela-Bela local municipality mayor Lucas Nhlapo has been using a car belonging to Dikala Plant Hire, a company that was doing business with the municipality. The company was, among other businesses, managing the municipality’s fleet.

But after the fleet management contract was terminated, Nhlapo did not return the car. Company owner Ben Poto has confirmed that the BMW X5 belonged to him.

Sowetan has seen a copy of a letter from Morris Maluleka, the municipal manager, indicating that all cars belonging to Poto be returned, including the BMW X5.

“We confirm that the service level agreement entered into by and between the municipality and Dikala will come to an end on January 31 2016. All vehicles have been inspected and all defects and damages repaired,” the letter reads.

Maluleka confirmed yesterday that he had written to everyone at the municipality, including Nhlapo, advising them to return all cars belonging to Dikala.

“Yes, it is true that I wrote a letter informing all municipal employees that they should return cars belonging to Dikala because we no longer have a contract with the company,” said Maluleka.

He said he had done his best and could not do anything further. “The car is still there but I do not know the arrangement at the moment.”

Nhlapo yesterday claimed he did not receive the letter in question.

“I did not receive the letter. But you can proceed to write [the story] and I will meet you in court.”

DA councillor in the municipality Kobus van der Merwe said they wanted Nhlapo to return the car to its owner. “We have been calling for Nhlapo to return the car but it seems he is refusing,” he said.

Van der Merwe said they hoped there would be an audit query.

“The mayor knows very well that the contract the company had entered into with the municipality had been terminated and there is no reason for him to keep the car.”