MEC accused of R100k car rental scam: I could be costing more
- As Mzansi brews over his R100 000 a month car rental bill, Kwazi Mshengu claims he could be costing taxpayers more
- In a bid to apparently save some face in the debacle, Mshengu pointed out that it would cost over R150 000 a month if he used his private vehicle
- Opposition parties are unimpressed at the excessive price of simply providing transport to a politician
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Kwazi Mshengu has been on the receiving end of backlash after it was revealed his rental car costs taxpayers R100 000 a month.
Briefly.co.za reported that the KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC defended his actions, adamant that his predecessor's car was unsafe.
The Sunday Times released a report accusing him of an elaborate 'scam' which allows him to drive a flashy Mercedes-Benz around on the public's coin.
Mshengu is accused of forging a letter from a car dealership so that he wouldn't be put through the pain of using a one-year-old Mercedes-Benz GLE 350.
READ ALSO: KZN MEC responds to the backlash: R100k a month to rent Mercedes
In a statement released in response to the situation, Mshengu claims he could have cost the department far more, alleging over R150 000 a month could have been claimed if he used his private vehicle:
“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."
The MEC slammed the original report as part of a narrative intending to paint him as 'irresponsible':
“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."
The DA has called for an investigation while the Freedom Front Plus has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to dismiss the MEC in a bid to prove he is committed to fighting corruption, reports The Citizen.
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Source: Briefly News
