However, Thabiso Makgato, administrative assistant for the EMPD, says this is untrue.
“Law enforcement has never had to stop for five months since its inception.”
She says that fines and summonses have been issued normally.
“Administrative support service is provided to the EMPD by service providers, and these are appointed in terms of the metro’s supply chain management policy.
“The tender process to appoint a service provider was started in time, but due to no successful competitive bidders, the bid was non-awarded and had to be re-advertised,” says Makgato.
She adds that this is for a complete back office support service including officers’ books.
“Due to the fact no tender is in place yet, the department uses mini tender to purchase officers’ books.”
According to her the books are not supplied five per precinct as a stopgap measure but are purchased on the basis of 2 000 books per type of book.
“History has proven that there are only approximately 500 to 600 officers that are deployed operationally, and that from these officers a large portion perform specialised duties.
“The bid process regarding purchasing of prosecution books is in the final stages of adjudication,” Makgato adds.
She says that it could not be anticipated that the actual bidders would commit errors in completing documentation which let to no award of the tender.
Consequently, the stipulated tender processes require that in such situation the tender is re-advertised.
“Law enforcement is not only all about issuing of fines, it also entails high visibility patrols and education of the community we serve.
“The EMPD is not a profit-making organisation, and does not measure its success of law enforcement based on income derived from fines, in any case, all income derived from traffic fines end up in a general income account of the metro, not of EMPD.”
