NUMEROUS metro vehicles, including metro police cars, came to a halt last week when C-Track deactivated its systems.
“These vehicles require the system to work as the C-track acts as an immobiliser and was used to track the activities of the vehicles,” Clr Ghaleb Cachalia, the DA leader in Ekurhuleni said in a statement issued at the weekend.
He raised concerns over the immobilisation of vehicles in the emergency services and other municipal vehicles fitted with C-track.
“Ekurhuleni owes the service provider in excess of R6-million for more than four months for services rendered. After non-payment, the service provider deactivated the C-track system, preventing all vehicles throughout the metro fitted with the system, from starting.
Although Themba Gadebe, metro spokesman, confirmed vehicles had been affected on Friday last week, he denied there was an ‘issue of account payment’.
“The contract expired on September 15. On September 1 the service provider was notified to stop all fitments, repairs and maintenance by September 15,” Gadebe said.
“According to our records there are no payments due beyond the contract expiry date. However, we are aware that Digicore (C-track) have submitted a claim in respect of “limited services” they offered in good faith afterwards, while the council was busy with the new tender.”
He said it was difficult to say how many vehicles were involved as not all vehicles fitted with tracking units were affected. All metro departments were affected to varying degrees and some services were negatively influenced as some vehicles could not continue with daily operations.
“However, this appears to have been limited as the majority of services were rendered. The situation lasted for a few hours and the matter was resolved. The supply chain management division has secured a new service provider to provide tracking services for the city’s fleet,” Gadebe added.
