The Emalahleni local municipality in Mpumalanga‚ which plans to use R1.5-million "savings" from a rollover budget intended for developmental projects to buy a luxury vehicle for its mayor‚ said it had already paid R43‚000 in an extended motor plan for her current vehicle. Municipal spokesman Lebo Mofokeng said Lindiwe Ntshalintshali was currently using a Toyota Lexus with a mileage of 124‚813km.“... The executive mayor is using a Toyota Lexus mayoral car which has reached 124‚813km and the motor plan of the car has expired. The plan was extended and cost council R43‚000. An option to lease was considered and found to be expensive due to the executive mayor's duties‚” Mofokeng said. He said an item to purchase a new mayoral vehicle was submitted to council for consideration and approval. The matter was placed on the agenda on September 1.“The procurement of the car will be subjected to supply chain management process and the market will determine the price of the car and the money will come from the savings...“The specification committee has not yet been appointed. As such‚ the advert has not been issued - which will guide the type of a car needed and the amount‚” Mofokeng said. On Tuesday‚ Sowetan reported that the council had taken a decision to buy a new car for Ntshalintshali when the Lexus reaches a mileage of 150‚000km. The council said the car was expected to reach the 150‚000km mileage by December.According to a report from Ntshalintshali’s office which Sowetan has seen‚ a vehicle suitable for her has a “typical price range benchmark between R1-million and R2-million”. It further states that‚ based on national best practice or guidelines‚ “a vehicle to perform this function should comply with certain safety and terrain requirements‚ especially in areas with under-developed infrastructure”.- TMG Digital/Sowetan..