Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit) – Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane on Wednesday presented a fleet of luxury cars to traditional leaders in the province.
The brand-new cars included Audi and BMW models.
Turning on the campaign charm, Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane said the vehicles were part of the tools of trade deserved by traditional leaders in the province that were promised by the government led by the African National Congress (ANC).
She said the traditional leaders were playing a vital role in the province and the availability of the vehicles would enable them to render their services better.
“As per the pronouncement I made during the opening of the Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders in the provincial legislature this year, today we are delivering vehicles to bo Ndabezitha (traditional leaders),” said Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane.
“The vehicles are purchased for the traditional leaders as tools of trade to enable them to travel and cover the vast areas to service their communities.
“The duration for the utilisation of the vehicles is five years.
“We further committed to ease mobility for our traditional leaders, restoring their dignity as leaders in our society.”
The handover of the vehicles was greeted with smiles of joy from the recipients.
Speaking on their behalf, the chairperson of the Mpumalanga House of Traditional Leaders and Khoisan, who is also the president of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa, Chief Lameck Mokoena, said recipients were grateful to the ANC-led government.
“The ANC-led government is giving us tools of trade to enable us to effectively and efficiently render our services. Thanks again to our premier,” Chief Mokoena said.