City manager visits Kempton Park Energy Depot to address service delivery challenges
Kempton Park Energy Department employees raised concerns over vehicle shortages and lack of tools during a visit from city manager Kagiso Lerutla as part of the Fixing the Frontline programme.
The CoE’s Kempton Park Energy Department employees gathered at the Energy Depot in Kempton Park during a visit by city manager Kagiso Lerutla on January 13.
The visit formed part of the launch of Lerutla’s service delivery programme, Fixing the Frontline.
He said the visit aimed to assess conditions at municipal depots and understand the challenges affecting service delivery.
“We are here to assess the conditions of the depots and get a sense of the challenges preventing them from performing service delivery at an optimum level.
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“We had a fruitful engagement, where employees raised issues they want the department to address, and we assured them that we would return next week to report back,” said Lerutla.
Employees highlighted several challenges that hinder their ability to perform their duties, calling on the department to address them to improve workflow.
Photo by: Masego Mashilo
Among the key issues raised were a shortage of vehicles and a lack of tools of trade, which, they said, makes it nearly impossible to complete tasks on time.
Kempton Park Energy Department employee Mokgalong Ntshabeleng said the lack of resources significantly affects productivity.
“We have challenges with vehicles, which means there is very little we can do without them. In addition, we experience challenges across the city regarding the issuance of materials.
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“If the department can help with supplying materials and servicing vehicles, we would be far more efficient and able to get our work done on time. I hope the city manager takes these concerns forward,” Ntshabeleng said.
Lerutla was shown a trench dug into the depot fence, which thieves allegedly used to gain access to the premises.
The Energy Department confirmed that no materials or equipment have been stolen. There were several arrests in connection with the incident, and security at the depot has since been strengthened to prevent further unauthorised access.
Fixing the Frontline is a focused service delivery and organisational renewal intervention aimed at restoring functionality, efficiency and professionalism at municipal depots, which serve as the city’s primary frontline service delivery points.
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A key pillar of the programme is the well-being, safety and capacitation of general workers, recognising their critical role in delivering services to communities.
The Ward 15 councillor was among the officials at the Kempton Park Energy Department during the visit.
Lerutla will return to the depot this week to give feedback on employees’ concerns and outline steps forward to improve service delivery. At the time of going to print, feedback had not been received.
