Will mayor’s former car go under the hammer?
On June 27 the council issued a press statement, which read, "The old 2008 Mercedes-Benz, registration number DXM 575 MP, will be placed on auction with the other redundant municipal assets with a bid opening value of R80 000, which was the value offered as trade-in". A Barberton Times investigation can confirm that only six vehicles will be auctioned today.
BARBERTON – The Umjindi Municipality executive mayor, Cllr Lazarus Mashaba’s previous car – a Mercedes-Benz E280 – which was declared “unsafe for use”, is not part of the council’s assets expected to go under the hammer today.
Several assets, regarded as redundant, will be sold at a public auction.
However, the Mercedes-Benz is excluded.This is contrary to the council’s earlier statement.
On June 27 the council issued a press statement, which read, “The old 2008 Mercedes-Benz, registration number DXM 575 MP, will be placed on auction with the other redundant municipal assets with a bid opening value of R80 000, which was the value offered as trade-in”. A Barberton Times investigation can confirm that only six vehicles will be auctioned today.
These include a Toyota Tazz Runner, two Nissan 1400s, Toyota Corolla Runner and two City Golf Runners. These sedans and bakkies, including tractors and trucks, are the only cars on offer. They are the only ones listed on the Shatandi Auctioneers and Asset Disposal CC, instructed by Umjindi to supplement and sell the items.
Sam Jele, Umjindi spokesman, said he didn’t want to be drawn into the Mercedes- Benz issue.
“I’m not at liberty to comment. Really, I don’t have any answers, unless I consult with my principals first,” he said.
A source, who only identified himself as Victor of Shatandi, said the items on the list on their website were assets they had been requested by Umjindi to supplement and sell on public auction.
“The Mercedes- Benz you are talking about was not part of these assets. Remember, we are a service provider and we don’t know what is supposed to be auctioned and what is not. The right people to comment are the council.”
There had been a lot of contradictory statements about this car in the past.
At first, the ANC councillors in council said it was unsafe for use by the mayor. They further claimed it was no longer economically viable as more often than not it had to be sent in for repairs.
Later, they said it was no longer profiling the status of Mashaba among other mayors and it also presented a negative image of the municipality.
Currently, the mayor is driving a 2013 CDI Mercedes-Benz E250. It was delivered as brand new on June 28.
It cost taxpayers R597 504, which included extras such as a new-shape price adjustment of R18 190 and refitting of official lights of R9 690.
The sale will take place at the municipal workshop in Hospital Road from 10:00. Viewing was done yesterday.
At the time of going to print, Barberton Times couldn’t establish the location of the mayor’s former car.
