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Acting MM, Thabo Panyani, sales executive for Werner Pumps, George Jolly and Executive Mayor, Thanduxolo Khalipa. PHOTO: ABIGAIL VISAGIE
By Abigail Visagie
The Matjhabeng Local Municipality has addressed concerns surrounding the procurement of jet vacuum trucks, which have sparked debate on social media amid claims that the municipality exceeded its allocated budget.
On 30 June 2025, the municipality procured two sewer combination trucks following a dual-authorised request from the fleet section. Merafe Holdings, a recognised service provider, was appointed through National Treasury under the RT57 transversal contract.
Acting Municipal Manager Thabo Panyani confirmed that the procurement process fully complied with all prescribed supply chain management requirements and that all relevant documentation was submitted, approved and duly signed.
“Claims circulating on social media suggest that the trucks should have cost the municipality R10.8 million but instead amounted to approximately R20 million,” said Panyani. “These claims are misleading and based on inaccurate quotations sourced from Werner Pumps.”
Panyani further explained that the quotations being shared relate to a different and less advanced model than the one procured by the municipality.
“Allegations of inflated pricing are therefore unfounded. The municipality will be instituting legal action against a former councillor who sourced and circulated misleading information, creating confusion and casting serious aspersions against the institution,” he said.
The municipality has also emphasised that the procurement of the sewer combination trucks is not only a form of recycling but an important step in strengthening infrastructure capacity.
“Matjhabeng Local Municipality calls on council, the administration, employees and communities to work together to build a municipality that is clean, safe, functional and people-centred,” Panyani concluded.
