MBOMBELA – An investigation by the Public Protector (PP) into vehicles purchased for use by the Office of the Premier is in its final stages.
Mr Salvation Mokgatlhe, communications officer for Adv Thuli Madonsela’s office, confirmed this week that they were nearing the end of an investigation into vehicles purchased for use by Mr David Mabuza and his bodyguards since he took office in 2009.
Both the DA and EFF had requested the PP to investigate the matter when the number and value of cars were first raised in January. Last week the Office of the Premier refuted information on cars purportedly used by his office that had been supplied by the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport (DPWRT) to the DA in response to questions through the legislature.
According to the answers supplied by DPWRT, a Range Rover 3.7 was purchased on September 18, 2013 for use by the Office of the Premier at a stated price of R1,4 million.
Mr Zibonele Mncwango, spokesman for the premier, said a senior official in DPWRT had responded with the information which had not first been verified with the premier’s office and the latter therefor distanced itself from the information.
Mr David Nkambule, spokesman for DPWRT, did not comment on the alleged unauthorised giving out of information, nor, as the handler of the assets register, on the existence of a Range Rover 3,7 in the government car pool.
