The GOOD party in Nelson Mandela Bay has filed a motion of no confidence against the speaker of council Gary van Niekerk for alleged misuse of state vehicles without obtaining required approvals.
Lawrence Troon, a councillor from the GOOD party who filed the motion, alleges that during the period when the “three Northern Alliance councillors” were declared vacant, including Van Niekerk who is a councillor of the Northern Alliance, Van Niekerk continued to use the vehicle for personal purposes.
According to Troon, Van Niekerk was seen daily in the northern areas using the municipal vehicle to transport unauthorised individuals.
“Speaker of council [councillor Gary van Niekerk] was in possession of a municipal vehicle [white VW Amarok bakkie, registration number JGB 519 EC],” said Troon.
“During his demise where the three Northern Alliance councillors were declared vacant, of which the speaker is a councillor of the Norther alliance, he continued to use the vehicle for his personal use.
“He was allegedly spotted throughout the northern areas daily using the municipal vehicle transporting people who aren’t allowed or prescribed to use such a vehicle and that includes him.”
Troon said despite numerous attempts by the safety and security directorate to recover the vehicle, their efforts proved unsuccessful.
However, on July 18 2022, a sting operation was launched and the vehicle was finally retrieved at a flat in St Georges Park.
“In January 2023 another vehicle was made available to transport the speaker, a black VW Tiguan, registration number HWP 531 EC. It is alleged that the authorised driver of this vehicle has been on leave and that the speaker has unlawfully authorised a political appointee, named Vernon Oliphant, to be his driver.
“In the absence of Vernon Oliphant, the speaker would drive the vehicle and was seen recently when he accompanied his father to cricket matches played in the city.
“It must be noted that no political appointee is authorised by the safety and security directorate to drive any municipal vehicle.”
He said Van Niekerk should face a disciplinary hearing before the rules and ethics committee to determine the costs incurred by the municipality during the period of his alleged unlawful use of the vehicle.
If found guilty, Troon believes that Van Niekerk should be expelled as a councillor.
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