By OBAKENG MAJE
25 September 2025- The ‘disgraced’ Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe has crashed a luxury municipal vehicle, Nissan Navara 2025 worth R560 000 during an accident in the early hours of Thursday morning, 25 September 2025. This has caused uproar amongst the public as this is the third municipal vehicle Gaoraelwe crashed.
In 2022, Gaoraelwe crashed municipality’s luxury BMW X3 worth R700 000 in an accident on N12 road between Schweizer Reneke and Wolmaranstad. He was also allegedly involved in an accident again on 30 June 2024.
Gaoraelwe crashed the municipal vehicle after allegedly being followed and shot at by unknown assailants. However, there are allegations that Gaoraelwe crashed the municipal vehicle during the day while drunk and later on, staged the attempted hijacking as a cover-up.
On 17 August 2025, Gaoraelwe damaged a newly-bought municipal bakkie in an accident. It is alleged that Gaoraelwe crashed the municipal vehicle after he plunged it into a tree at his residential area on 17 August 2025.
At the time, the Greater Taung Local Municipality spokesperson, Ricky Oliphant said the equipment damage report indicated that the vehicle was driven into a tree. Oliphant said the damages for this incident amounted to R120 000, which is going to be covered by the insurance.
Now, the Democratic Alliance councillor, Sam Nape said they are indeed thunderstruck by the situation the municipality found itself in under the stewardship of Gaoraelwe. Nape said this is a major setback and he is so disenchanted.
“I have lost count of how many accidents Gaoraelwe was involved in while driving municipal vehicles. This is a forlorn situation and I do not know how much embarrassment his political party, ANC, is willing to take before removing him from his position. Well, we call for his removal as always, however, if he continues to be protected by his party, then there is nothing that we can do.
“The challenge is that the ANC councillors are in majority at the municipal council and the opposition parties are outvoted even if they table a motion of no confidence against the mayor,” he said.
The ACDP councillor, Gaolatlhwe Tshipo shared the same sentiments.
Tshipo said: “We have seen a trend of negligence and misuse of the municipal properties by the mayor. Gaoraelwe was supposed to be the custodian, who leads by example and showing the public how municipal assets are protected.
“However, he is not protecting municipal assets, instead, he is misusing them. The BMW X3 worth over R700 000 was written off because of carelessness after he was involved in a car accident.”
Tshipo further said they call on the ANC to act against Gaoraelwe as its deployee. He added that they are going to lobby other opposition parties and call for his removal.
“Gaoraelwe is a disgrace to the people of Taung. We are not going to allow this kind of lawlessness. Actually, this is a theft of taxpayers’ money. Gaoraelwe is not fit to be called the mayor of the Greater Taung Local Municipality,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) spokesperson, Ricky Oliphant said: “Yes, the municipality is aware of the recent accident. The mayor was driving to his house in the early morning of Thursday, 25 September 2025, when he lost control of a vehicle, while swerving to avoid a collision with a donkey.
“The mayor was alone in the vehicle at the time of the accident. The concern is not limited to the municipal assets, but also about the safety of the mayor, its councillors and employees,” he said.
The Guardian 