Ekurhuleni MMC’s Office comments on fleet concerns

According to the Shadow MMC for Transport Planning, Roads and Stormwater, the fleet repairs challenges have been resolved.

This comes after Ward 19 Ald Bill Rundle raised concerns about service delivery being hindered by the challenges affecting the city’s fleet management workshop division.

Rundle said departments across the city were affected.

According to Thandeka Kaba from the MMC’s office, challenges were resolved with the appointment of repair service providers and the implementation of a repairs programme in October 2023.

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“Vehicles across the city are undergoing repairs and are released back to the departments daily,” said Kaba.

One challenge identified is that the majority of the CoE’s fleet is above economic age. The city owns 5 784 vehicles and 90% of this fleet is old.

Kaba said this results in frequent vehicle breakdowns, which take time to repair.

Despite this, the department endeavours to keep many vehicles on the road to ensure that service delivery continues.

In response to Rundle’s allegations regarding the department making use of an acting operational planning manager, the department said this was untrue.

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Kaba said the fleet workshop division does not have a position of operational planning manager in its structure. It has an area manager position whose duty is to oversee workshop operations.

Kaba said this position is filled full-time. Addressing Rundle’s concerns regarding quality inspectors, Kaba said eight are permanently employed at nine of the city’s workshops.

Brakpan currently has a vacant position as the previous incumbent died. Kaba said the process of filling this position is in progress.

“There is currently an acting quality inspector in this workshop to ensure continuity of services,” said Kaba.

When highlighting the shortage of vehicles, Rundle said Edenvale’s EMPD officers are meant to have at least 18 operable vehicles. On October 31, he said only two were functional.

Similarly, Rundle said out of the water and sanitation departments’ approximate 30 vehicles meant to service Edenvale, only eight are operational.

He said the energy department was affected by the fleet crisis but somehow is managing to respond to reported matters.

Lastly, Rundle said the parks department, which is meant to have 12 grass-cutting units, is non-functional.

In response to this, the fleet department stated that the allocation and distribution of departmental vehicles is the responsibility of each department as the custodian of its vehicles.

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Kaba said the fleet workshop division does not have control over the allocation of any department’s vehicles.

It provides support in terms of repairing and maintaining the vehicles as and when they are booked in for repairs.

Each department must allocate and distribute its vehicles based on what is required at the time.

EMPD

Currently, there are 12 Edenvale EMPD vehicles booked in the Edenvale fleet workshop for major repairs and all are at various stages of repairs.

These vehicles will be released back to EMPD as and when they are repaired. All 12 vehicles are set to be completed in the next two weeks.

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Water and sanitation

There are currently nine Edenvale Water and Sanitation vehicles booked in the Edenvale fleet workshop for major repairs.

They are at various stages of repair. The vehicles will be released when repairs are completed. Repair work is expected to be completed by November 16.

Energy

There are 11 Edenvale energy vehicles booked in at the Edenvale fleet workshop for major repairs. They should be ready by November 18.

Parks

Four Edenvale Parks vehicles are booked in for repairs. Repairs on all four will be completed by November 14.

Kaba stated that all CoE vehicles undergo regular scheduled maintenance/service as per the manufacturer’s specifications.

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Numbers may change as and when these vehicles are written off and when new vehicles are purchased.

To quell further uncertainties, Kaba confirmed that the department does have a vehicle replacement plan.

According to Kaba, the following vehicles are replaced when they meet the following criteria:• Sedans: 120 000km or every three years

• Ldv’s: 120 000km or every three years

• Trucks less than 3.5 tons: 150 000km or every five years

• Trucks above 3.5 tons: 200 000km or every five years

• Buses: 500 000km or every 10 years