MEC defends R100k expense

ALLEGATION: FORGED LETTER FROM CAR DEALERSHIP TO JUSTIFY MONTHLY RENTAL FOR MERC

Mshengu claims using a private vehicle would have cost the department more.

Kwazi Mshengu, the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for education, has released a statement following a report accusing him of an elaborate “scam” which has led to him spending R100 000 per month of taxpayers’ money on a rented MercedesBenz.

The report alleges that Mshengu forged a letter from a car dealership so he could rent the car instead of using a state vehicle his predecessor made use of – a one-year-old Mercedes-Benz GLE 350.

The forged letter reportedly said that the car was unsafe and could kill him, and this was allegedly used a justification for the R100 000-per-month rented car.

In the statement, Mshengu makes the astonishing claim that if he were to have used a private car instead of the rented one, he would cost his department even more money.

“My car has an engine capacity of 3.5 litres. In the month of September 2019, I travelled over 8 000km, which I would have been entitled to claim from the department.

“Given the tariffs applicable and rounding off the kilometres to 8 000, it means I would have been entitled to claim from the department an amount of R154 488, which is higher than hiring a car,” he said.

He said the Sunday Times report was part of a “narrative” aiming at portraying him as “irresponsible and extravagant”.

“The narrative created that I do not want to use the department’s vehicle merely because it was used by the former MEC is nothing but a figment of imagination advanced to achieve the purpose of projecting me as an irresponsible and extravagant MEC.

“I am using most of the things that I have inherited when I assumed office.”

He also denied allegations in the report that the reason for his refusal to use his predecessor Mthandeni Dlungwane’s car was that they were political rivals.

The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal wants the MEC investigated for abuse of funds, while the Freedom Front Plus says President Cyril Ramaphosa must dismiss Mshengu to prove he is serious about fighting corruption. –