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Dihlabeng motion on misuse of vehicles

A motion has been tabled in the municipal council of Dihlabeng at Bethlehem on the misuse by officials of municipal vehicles. This is based on reports of several instances where municipal officials have allegedly misused vehicles of the municipality for private purposes.
One of the most prominent cases in this regard was when a truck with a mounted crane from the municipal Dept. of Public Works was used to transport private wood valued to some R1 500 to a funeral in QwaQwa. Allegedly done on instruction of one of the directors contrary to the Municipal Financial Management Act, 56 of 2003, but en route the driver of the truck lost control near Kestell and the truck overturned causing damage of some R850 000. See photo at the top.
In another incident a municipal employee at Rosendal drove too fast with the municipal bakkie, overturning the vehicle. Afterwards, the employee stated that the accident was caused by a burst tyre, but closer investigation revealed that the tyre was cut with a knife, with the knife remaining forgotten on the inside of the tyre.
Other incidents including the writing off of a sewerage tanker of some R185 000 near Fouriesburg at a bend because of speeding. Moreover two garbage trucks also overturned early in November 2005. Other instances involved a municipal vehicle as well as a Mercedes-Benz used by the mayor of Dihlabeng, Mr. Patrick Jacobs, on official duty, with the first ending up in a mealie field and the second damaged over a tree trunk.
Complaints have also been received from other towns, inter alia Frankfort, of municipal vehicles seen to be allegedly used for personal and political purposes.