Cape Town – An executive mayor of a Northern Cape municipality Maryna Basson has reportedly denied allegations that she left a petrol station without paying.
In a statement, the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality said the bill was not paid due to a “misunderstanding between the driver and the petrol station attendant”.
It was alleged that Basson was using her official vehicle when the incident occurred on October 2.
The municipality maintained that Basson didn’t know that the fuel bill had not been paid.
“In a misunderstanding between the driver of the vehicle and the gas station attendant the account was not settled, as the driver was under the impression that the incumbent (mayor) in the car paid and the attendant was under the impression the driver paid inside.
“Once this error was noticed by the owner of the garage, arrangements were made for the account to be paid as soon as possible,” said the municipality.
The municipality said that the mayor had since apologised on behalf of the driver and was not aware that the money had not been paid for the fuel.
“The executive mayor, Cllr Maryna Basson, personally apologised to the owner of the garage on behalf of the driver.
“The executive mayor is not responsible for the petrol card or payment of fuel. This is the sole responsibility of the driver. No deadline was given for the payment of the account and the account was settled in full without duress.”
However, DA in the Northern Cape accused Basson of trying to evade the payment and alleged that details of the vehicle were posted on Facebook in an attempt to find the driver, reported IOL.
“It soon came to light that the publicised details were those of the ZF Mgcawu mayoral vehicle, which was on a round trip from Upington to Kimberley, where mayor Maryna Basson was to attend the Letsema Campaign launch with ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa,” the report quoted Flip van der Steen, DA whip in the Dawid Kruiper Municipality.
He said that Basson only paid after being exposed and given a set time to pay for the fuel.
“Regardless of whether or not she herself was driving, it is scandalous that the mayor would deem it okay to abscond from a garage without paying.
“She has brought the reputation of the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality into disrepute and she must be held accountable for such criminal behaviour,” said van der Steen.
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Picture: Facebook/ ZF Mgcawu District Municipality
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
