No more luxury cars for Tshwane politicians - Msimanga

6 September 2016

Johannesburg - Tshwane Mayor Solly Msimanga has announced an immediate stop to all purchases or leasing of luxury cars, a week after halting inaugural dinner parties and celebratory dinners and lunches for politicians in the capital city.

No new luxury car would be bought or leased for politicians and if vehicles currently owned by the City needed to be replaced, sensible and low cost-vehicles would be procured, he said through a statement from his office on Tuesday.

"I will not allow public money to be spent on luxury cars, while our people struggle for services, houses and jobs. No more luxury cars will be bought or leased under my government. A Hyundai i20 or Toyota Corolla can do the same job for a politician as an expensive sedan."

Purchased BMWs to go to anti-hijack unit

Msimanga is said to have uncovered the procurement of 10 new luxury BMW vehicles for politicians which had been paid for out of public money by the previous administration. These cars would now be delivered to the Tshwane Metro Police department to serve a newly-formed Anti-Hijack Unit.

"Rather than using luxury vehicles for politicians, we will use them for a new Unit in the Metro Police to prevent and respond to hijackings and high-speed chases, because the vehicles have powerful engines and can be used for fast-response. This puts the needs of people first, and not the needs of politicians first."

Msimanga, acting on one of the promises he made during the election campaign, also banned blue lights for politicians and officials in Tshwane, including his own vehicle. Officials in the city were now expected to travel like ordinary citizens and to stop at red lights.

This article first appeared on News24, see here.