BY STAFF REPORTER
Democratic Alliance in North West said  they are concerned that the use of mayoral vehicle to visit taverns compromises the office of the mayor and damages the reputation of the council.

This came about after allegations that Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Kaone Gavin Lobelo visited a local tavern using a municipality’s vehicle.

Democratic Alliance MPL in North West Provincial Legislature, Dr Tutu Faleni said his party has been informed by concerned community members in Taung that Greater Taung local municipality mayor, Kaone Lobelo allegedly used a council vehicle to go to a tavern named Kgano Bar (Ma-Kehilwe) in Taung.

“According to reports that we have received, the Mayor used a council vehicle to go about drinking at a local tavern.

“It is alleged that the mayor used a BMW (white) car belonging to the municipality to visit Kgano Bar (affectionately known as Makihilwe) in Lokaleng village in Taung on Sunday (12 July 2015) around 20:30pm,” he said.

He said some members of the public, who were disturbed by seeing a mayoral vehicle at a tavern, took the pictures and circulated them on social networks.

“The Democratic Alliance is of the view that a mayoral vehicle is allocated to the mayor to use it for official council business and that it is improper for the mayor or whoever to use a council vehicle for personal entertainment and social leisure.

“Besides the fact that it a statutory requirement that state resources such as council vehicles should be used for council business, it gives a bad impression to see a council vehicle being used to visit a shebeen.

“It’s bad for the reputation of the council especially for the position of the major and it compromises the integrity of the office of the mayor,” concludes Faleni.

However Greater Taung Local Municipality mayor, Kaone Lobelo refutes the allegations. He said he does not deny the fact that he was indeed at the above-mentioned area, but did not go there on a drinking spree.

“You will remember that at Kgano Bar, there is a restaurant too, so yes I remember that I visited the area but I went there to buy food. I did not even spent more than 20 minutes there. I would believe those who provided information wanted to mislead the public and discredit me,” Lobelo said.

South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) Regional Secretary, Mika Moeti said they would not like to comment much so far until they receive a report regarding the issue, however they condemn the act.

“We would like to get a report regarding the issue before we could put our comment across. However, we would say all government vehicles need to be monitored.

“All public servants need to be accountable if found to be misusing state properties. We hope mayor has good reason on why he was at that area at that time, so before we hear his side of the story, our comment will be reserved,” Moeti outlines.

The mayoral vehicle made headlines two months ago after the Sunday newspaper (Sunday Times) reported that the Greater Taung Local Municipality forked out staggering R1m to purchase it.

-TDN

Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_