In his inauguration speech, Gayton McKenzie of the Patriotic Alliance (PA) party said nothing from Central Karoo district will be spent on him during his tenure.

This includes not having a mayoral vehicle and bodyguards.

He used his funds to pay for the food eaten at his inauguration, local media outlets report.

Mr McKenzie confirmed his pledge with a tweet on Tuesday, that added that "taxpayers looked after me in jail, I'm free now".

https://twitter.com/GaytonMcK/status/1513769208806621185

Mr McKenzie promised to intensify the fight against illegal immigration.

He served seven years of a 15-year sentence for armed robbery after being arrested in 1996. He was released from prison in 2003.