New municipal vehicle fleet launched

Thembi Nkadimeng, Polokwane Executive Mayor, launched the municipality’s new vehicle fleet at a media briefing at the Polokwane cricket fields on Wednesday morning and said that no time will be wasted to put the vehicles into operation.
A total of 110 vehicles costing R91 million and comprising passenger vehicles, light delivery vehicles, trucks and earthmoving equipment were delivered to the municipality over the last three weeks.
Nkadimeng explained that the municipality considered various options for the procurement of the vehicles and equipment and decided to buy and own vehicles and attend to the maintenance thereof through the authorised service providers.
“The municipality intends to procure more vehicles later this year to bring the total new fleet to 433 vehicles but has not taken a final decision on how the units will be financed.
Nkadimeng explained that the municipality was still using 243 vehicles from the FleetAfrica contract after a court order was obtained late in February to compel FleetAfrica to allow the municipality to keep possession of the vehicles until such time as the matter of further ownership of the vehicles was resolved.
“The municipality’s position is that the vehicles were paid for and are now assets of the municipality, while FleetAfrica insists that the vehicles have to be returned after expiry of the contract. The municipality had numerous meetings with FleetAfrica but FleetAfrica opted not to engage in conflict resolution and arbitration and we had to approach the court,” Nkadimeng said and added that some of the vehicles are still in a good condition and could still be used for service delivery. “If the municipality retains ownership, the vehicles will be disposed of when necessary and in accordance with Supply Chain Management (SCM) regulations,” Nkadimeng said.
Municipal Manager Dikgape Makobe added that some officials who qualify, will be allowed to purchase their own vehicles for official use as well and finance the purchasing through travel allowances. He also announced that the municipality accepted an offer from a local vehicle dealership to provide sponsored vehicles to some councillors and senior officials. “The vehicles will be branded as part of the dealer’s advertising programme,” Makobe said.

Story, photos & video: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com