MEC Sello Lehari hands over donkey-drawn carts worth R780 000 to villagers. Photo: North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management/ Facebook.
DA appalled by R780 000 expenditure on 20 donkey carts
The DA reacts with dismay over the expenditure of R780 000 on 20 donkey-drawn carts by the North West government
MEC Sello Lehari hands over donkey-drawn carts worth R780 000 to villagers. Photo: North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management/ Facebook.
The DA has expressed its outrage over the expenditure of R780 000 on 20 donkey-drawn carts by the North West government.
DA WEIGHS IN ON THE R780 000 CARTS EXPENDITURE
Reacting to the trendy topic, the party wrote: “The DA is appalled by the North West government’s ‘donation’ of 20 donkey carts at an exorbitant price of R780 000”.
“The ANC in the province has failed to invest in critical infrastructure and public transport – municipalities have returned R138 million in unspent conditional grants”.
DA
- ALSO READ: Eastern Cape’s R10 million scooter project throttles local healthcare budget
- ALSO READ: DA: Corruption cost provinces R121 million in Health funding
DONKEY TRANSPORT BUDGET RAISES EYEBROWS
The reaction by the DA comes after the public took to social media to scrutinize the project.
However, the North West government justified its expenditure.
In response, the North West Government said it has come to the attention of the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management that some social media platform users are peddling unsubstantiated information about the animal-drawn carts.
“On Thursday, 3rd of November 2022, MEC Sello Lehari handed the carts to twenty beneficiaries of Dibono and Manawana villages outside Mahikeng most of whom are women. In line with the National Land Transport Act, NLTA, this seeks to alleviate challenges faced by rural communities. The carts were manufactured in Lonely Park in Mafikeng and there had been a skills transfer to some of the beneficiaries.”
“As part of the contract with the Department, the service provider will maintain the carts for the next three years at no cost to owners. The twenty carts were procured for a total of R 780 000 inclusive of the three-year maintenance plan. The 2 seater is R32 500 each and the 4 seater is R45 500,” the department detailed.
NORTH WEST GOVERNMENT PLEADS FOR FACT-CHECKING
In addition, the Department has pleaded with social media users to verify information, “rather than palating falsity and deceitfulness that harm the character of the Department, the MEC and the management”.
ALSO READ: North West sets record on R780 000 donkey-drawn carts purchase
