The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Capricorn District Municipality (CDM) will urgently write to the Mayor and the Municipal Manager, calling on them to comply with National Treasury’s Municipal Cost Containment Regulations and CDM’s own Cost Containment Policy — and to immediately halt the intended leasing of a Category I luxury vehicle for the Speaker.
The Speaker’s official Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is currently under repair, and the municipality’s insurer has already provided a Category B sedan as a temporary replacement. Despite this, a report before the CDM Council recommended leasing a Category I luxury vehicle for the Speaker — an unnecessary and unjustifiable expenditure.
The DA vehemently opposed this proposal, citing blatant non-compliance with both Treasury’s Regulations and the municipality’s own policy. Nonetheless, the ANC railroaded the item through Council, displaying a reckless disregard for fiscal discipline and the rule of law.
The purpose of Treasury’s cost-containment framework is to curb wasteful expenditure and ensure that scarce public resources are directed towards service delivery and fiscal sustainability. Regulation 6 specifically provides that all vehicle leases and purchases must be cost-effective, value-for-money, and reflect the prudent use of public resources. The Speaker already has a temporary vehicle available, and any additional lease would therefore contravene both the spirit and intent of the Regulations.
Furthermore, CDM’s own policy explicitly prohibits officials and political office bearers from hiring vehicles above Category B or its equivalent, unless operational conditions clearly justify it. No such justification was presented, making the proposed lease a direct violation of this rule.
At a time when communities across the Capricorn District face chronic water shortages, infrastructure decay, and service-delivery failures, it is indefensible for the ANC-led municipality to prioritise political comfort over public need.
The DA will not tolerate the misuse of municipal funds or the deliberate disregard of financial discipline measures designed to prevent extravagance and corruption. We stand firmly for fiscal accountability, transparency, and good governance. Every rand spent by CDM must be lawful, justified, and in the best interests of residents — not to fund luxury perks for politicians.
We remain committed to defending the rights of residents, promoting ethical leadership, and ensuring that public money works for the people — not the politically connected few.