The CoE’s long-standing reliance on outsourced contractors is again in the spotlight after city manager Kagiso Lerutla acknowledged that an overdependence on tenders had weakened internal capacity and undermined effective service delivery during his visit to the Kempton Park Energy Depot on January 13.

This admission came as part of the launch of Lerutla’s flagship service delivery programme, Fixing the Frontline, aimed at restoring functionality, accountability and efficiency at municipal depots across the metro.

For years, Ekurhuleni residents have been on the receiving end of service delivery failures, from prolonged power outages to delayed maintenance and inconsistent response times.

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At their centre is a system that increasingly outsources core municipal functions, often at great cost, while the city’s workforce remains under-resourced and underused.

During engagements with depot staff and general workers, staff cited vehicle shortages, insufficient personnel and no basic tools of trade as constraints that have left frontline workers unable to work effectively, even when the skills and willingness to work exist.

Lerutla did not dispute these concerns but placed them squarely within the broader structural problem facing the CoE: An outsourcing model that prioritised contracted services over internal capacity building.

“We cannot continue to rely on contracted services while our workforce is unable to do its work. This model is unsustainable and weakens the CoE’s capacity to deliver services,” Lerutla said.

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His remarks signal a significant policy shift at a time when public trust in local government is fragile.

Beyond inefficiency, Lerutla raised a more troubling consequence of the tender-driven environment, one that has increasingly exposed municipal staff to risk.

According to him, some contractors use intimidation and threats to try to secure or protect contracts, creating a climate of fear and instability within municipal operations.

This reality has fuelled public perception that outsourcing has not only drained municipal resources, but also eroded governance, accountability and worker morale.

Often, city employees are sidelined, reduced to spectators, while external contractors do work that could be done internally, if the necessary investment in tools, training and management were made.

The Fixing the Frontline programme is a corrective measure. Lerutla is committed to prioritising rehabilitation of depots, restoring operational functionality and ensuring workers are properly equipped.

Central to the initiative is leadership visibility, with senior management expected to be on the ground and accountable for service delivery outcomes.

As the programme is rolled out across municipal depots and customer care centres, it will test whether political will can translate into tangible change.

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Slashing reliance on contractors is easier said than done, particularly in a system deeply entrenched in outsourcing practices. It will require not only administrative reform, but firm political backing and resistance to vested interests that thrive in the current tender ecosystem.

For Ekurhuleni residents, the stakes are high. Reliable electricity, water, road maintenance and basic municipal services are constitutional expectations.

Whether Fixing the Frontline marks a genuine turning point or becomes another well-intentioned initiative will depend on how decisively the city acts to rebuild internal capacity and restore confidence in its workforce.

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The Germiston City News asked residents affected by failed service delivery about their thoughts on the programme. Many shared the same sentiment: They will wait until they see change.

“Local elections are coming up, so politicians will again make promises of service delivery improvements. It’s nothing new. If they really want to make a change, let them work without public announcements. Let residents see the change,” said Simon Khumalo from Lambton.

Outsourcing has long hung over the city, fuelling endless service delivery protests and union demonstrations demanding its cancellation. Several political parties have also criticised the wasteful expenditure.