By OBAKENG MAJE
The embattled Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe came out guns blazing and defended himself over ‘drunkness’ allegations. This comes after the ‘sober’ Gaoraelwe allegedly crashed the municipality’s luxury BMW X5 worth R700 000 in an accident on Monday afternoon.
There were allegations that, he was drunk during the accident, but insist that ‘he was sober like a judge’.
He was involved in an accident 15km outside Schweizer Reneke, while driving to Klerksdorp. According to the North West police, Gaoraelwe was allegedly driving behind a tractor in the same direction and collided with it during a failed attempt to overtake.
The North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Sgt Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “Upon arrival at the scene, the police found a vehicle belonging to the mayor and a tractor involved in an accident. It is alleged that, a tractor that was travelling towards Wolmaranstad was off-ramping from the main road, while Gaoraelwe was driving behind it.
“Gaoraelwe allegedly tried to overtake the tractor but collided with the rear right side of it. No injuries were sustained by the driver and the passenger of the vehicle and only damages to both vehicles were reported,” van Rooyen said.
She said a case of reckless and negligent driving was opened by the police and is still under investigation.
There were allegations that Gaoralewe was on leave and has appointed F4SD councillor, Mika Moeti as the acting mayor. However, Gaoralwe refuted them and insisted that, even though he was on a private trip during the accident, he was not on leave.
“First of all, I was not on leave because if I was, there could have been an acting mayor. So, no one was acting because I was not on leave. According to the regulation, as councillors, one can take an absence of leave, but it should be granted by the municipal speaker through consultation with the council.
“That’s how straightforward it is, so, I was not on leave. Yes, I had an accident, but I was still not leaving. I was driving with my ex-wife including my children in the car,” he said.
He further said, he was driving his ex-wife and children back to Klerksdorp and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) mayoral handbook allows him to use an official vehicle for private matters.
“It allows me to use this car for official and private matters. My extended or closest family members are also allowed to be in the car. Even worse, they are allowed to drive the car.
“Let me tell you another thing that is worse, my girlfriend is also allowed to drive this car, if I declared her at the municipality. So, who was in the car is not much of an issue,” said Gaoraelwe.
He added that, he still has a relationship with his wife by a virtue of having children together. Gaoraelwe said for the purpose of the accident report, he was not drunk and even his blood was drawn from him for a test.
“I am ok, and I am wondering why people persist that there was a woman in the car without mentioning my children who were also in the car. there were two boys in the car, but no one is mentioning it.
“You guys are talking about a woman in the car as if she was a stranger or a concubine. I am also a human being and I do not like this type of journalism,” concluded Gaoraelwe.
The Guardian 