Dean Macpherson, the DA's chief whip for the eThekwini region said on Tuesday that the "purchase is a slap in the face of the poorest of the poor in eThekwini who have been denied housing and basic services due to fraud, corruption and limited budgets."

According to Macpherson the two vehicles come fitted with with 4 cameras, a fridge, sunroof and a full satellite navigation system.

eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo has a BMW 7 series while deputy mayor Nomvuzo Shabalala has the use of a BMW 3 series, all paid for by Durban's ratepayers.

"While the DA appreciates that the Mayor and Deputy Mayor should have adequate means of travel and transportation, such luxury and opulence is simply not justifiable in the midst of service delivery protests and rates increases that the city has faced over recent times."

He said the DA would ask the Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela to investigate the purchase in term of the Municipal Finance Management Act to determine whether there was a case for wasteful expenditure against the city.

Comment could not be immediately obtained from the eThekwini Metro.