This article was updated on 14 November to accurately reflect the number of vehicles purchased by the eThekwini Municipality for protection purposes.
The city manager of eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, Musa Mbhele, is heavily protected by 23 armoured Toyota double-cab bakkies costing R869,565 each.
The total price tag of R20 million, has raised eyebrows in the municipality, with officials who feel the price of the vehicles had been inflated.
Senior officials who spoke on condition of anonymity provided Scrolla.Africa with the number plates of the Toyota bakkies allegedly used to provide security for Mbhele.
"The price of these bakkies come in at about R1.8 million each, so we don't know how they arrived at the figure of R20 million," said a source.
"At first the chief financial officer didn't want to authorise the purchase but he later agreed because the vehicles were already here."
Mbhele said that if anyone believes the purchase of the vehicles was fraudulent, they should report the matter to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) or the Public Protector.
"Do they want my enemies to know that I am being driven in armoured cars? This is going to compromise my safety. But God will fight for me because they want to damage my reputation," he said.
Chief financial officer Dr Sandile Mnguni clarified that in the 2022/23 financial year, the City allocated a total of R20 million to acquire a selection of vehicles.
He said the purchases were completed following a total market assessment, ensuring that the City obtained the most suitable options available.
"It's essential to note that all reports presented to the council received approval from duly authorised officials, and the entire procurement followed due process," said Mguni.
"In consideration of security concerns, we are unable to provide any further details."
RIGHT OF REPLY: Twenty-three (23) vehicles were procured and delivered based on the approval and budget availability of R20 million.
The allegations that the City spent R20 million to procure only four Toyota Hiluxs is a gross misrepresentation of facts and malicious inflation of the actual costs.
In fact, eThekwini Municipal Council at its meeting held on the 30-03-2023 approved the procurement of vehicles for the purposes of effective provision of the Security and Protection Services, this was for both the replacements and additional vehicle requirements, at an estimated value of R20 000 000.00 (Twenty-Million Rand), including VAT during the 2022/23 financial year this was for the procurement of 23 vehicles as stated above.
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The current fleet had exceeded its lifespan and due for replacement. Also, new vehicles are required based on operational demands of the Security and Protection Services.
Different vehicle categories of these 23 vehicles were procured and specific details cannot be shared to protect the sensitive nature of the security requirements as criminals would be alerted and use this information as part of their modus operandi.
Therefore, we hereby clarify that R20 million was for the procurement of twenty-three (23) vehicles, not four (4) Toyota Hiluxs.
Editor's note: This right of reply refers to an article from Scrolla, and used on allAfrica.
