It seems the mayors of the Greater Tzaneen and Greater Letaba municipalities are eager to join the fight against crime, as both have had sirens and flashing blue lights fitted to their official cars.
The Bulletin, a community newspaper operating out of Tzaneen, reports that mayor OJ Mushwana has fitted a siren and flashing blue light at a cost of R15 000 to his white Mercedes Benz.
Not be outdone, the mayor of the neighbouring Greater Letaba municipality, Joshua Matlou, has fitted a siren and flashing blue light to his black Toyota twin-cab.
The Bulletin reports that Matlou’s twin-cab has been spotted on numerous occasions travelling at excessive speeds with siren blaring and blue light flashing.
Fitting of such equipment to a vehicle is illegal, according to the National Road Traffic Act, as well as being a flagrant misuse of taxpayer’s money.
The Act says that firefighting vehicles, rescue vehicles, ambulances and vehicles driven by traffic officers may exceed the applicable general speed limit, provided that they are fitted with a device capable of emitting a prescribed sound and with an identification lamp.
”Gentlemen, you show clear signs of an unhealthy appetite for power and I would strongly recommend that you address this nonsense of driving around with illegal blue flashing lights and sirens,” said the Bulletin‘s open letter to both mayors.
Mushwana confirmed that the siren and blue light had been fitted to his car, but claimed it had not been used and he did not know who paid for it.
”I had it fitted, so when I am being escorted, my drivers can put it on and then just drive,” he said.
When the Mail & Guardian asked Mushwana if he knew it was illegal, he said he did not and that he would look at the relevant clause in the National Road Traffic Act.
Matlou referred the M&G to the greater Letaba municipal manager, insisting that the car was municipal property and did not belong to him.
”As far as I am aware, all cars of mayors in the whole of Limpopo have those fitted,” said Matlou.