Kempton Testing Centre crumbles amid budget cuts

Ward 104 Clr Tracey Lourenco has raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of the Kempton Park Vehicle Testing Centre (KPVTC), citing neglected maintenance, crumbling infrastructure and budget constraints that hinder service delivery.

Lourenco said the centre has struggled to meet demand and can test only about 20 vehicles daily due to limited operational equipment.

Although the CoE offers roadworthy testing as a public service, including checks on lights, alternators, indicators, suspension, and other critical safety features, Lourenco said the facility is “simply not up to the task”.

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In response to questions directed to MMC for Community Safety, Sizakele Masuku, it was revealed that the centre had not been fully operational for the last 15 months.

Lourenco said only the eNatis equipment and the headlamp testing machine work.

“The brake roller machine trips the power when switched on and fails to record vehicle data.

“The roller door has been broken for over two years, and despite several work orders submitted to the Real Estate Department, they continue to cite insufficient funds for repairs,” she said.

Adding to the challenges, Lourenco said the testing equipment has not been calibrated since 2023, again due to budget constraints. A repair and maintenance tender prepared by the department during the 2023/24 financial year was rejected by the city’s budget office.

A subsequent request during the adjustment budget process was also declined.

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“The KPVTC was allocated just R23 000 for the upcoming financial year. That’s nowhere near sufficient given the extent of work required,” Lourenco added.

She said the situation underscores the ANC-EFF-ActionSA coalition’s failure to deliver even basic services to Ekurhuleni residents.

“I will take up this matter again with MMC Masuku and push for the Real Estate Department to be made aware of the severity of this issue. A proper budget allocation must be made,” said Lourenco.

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She added that the DA would continue to advocate for efficient service delivery throughout the city.

City spokesperson Zweli Dlamini confirmed the municipality had received a cost estimate for the centre’s maintenance.
“However, due to required procurement procedures, the department is seeking ways to manage the costs within the available budget,” he said.