FF+ not convinced that leasing 145 new vehicles will improve ELM’s service delivery
In the past, service providers frequently repossessed vehicles because the municipality failed to honour its lease obligations.
SEDIBENG.- The Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) has said that it is not convinced that the Emfuleni Local Municipality’s leasing a fleet of 145 new vehicles will resolve the service delivery crisis.
The Emfuleni Local Municipality’s (ELM) Executive Mayor, Sipho Radebe, launched 25 new service delivery vehicles on Monday.
“Today marks a significant step towards improving service delivery. We thank everyone involved in making this happen, “said Radebe, Executive Mayor.
The EFF plus on the other hand said that the vehicles will certainly come in handy, but the concern is that this is just an election gimmick by the ANC-led administration, less than a year before the 2026 municipal elections.
” While any effort to improve service delivery is welcomed – particularly with regard to public safety, refuse removal, electricity and infrastructure – it has to be properly managed and bring about tangible, lasting improvement.”
In the past, service providers frequently repossessed vehicles because the municipality failed to honour its lease obligations.
The first 50 vehicles (which included 25 service vehicles, 15 bakkies and 10 sedans) were handed over to the Department of Public Safety on Monday. On Tuesday another 30 vehicles (10 bakkies and 20 sedans) were expected to be handed over to the Fleet Department – with further distribution of vehicles to follow by the end of February.
The Municipality also plans to provide 15 new compactors and 10 skip loaders in March, as well as 10 vehicles with cranes to the Electricity Department for repairing street lights and high-mast lights.
Currently there are only seven operational compactors leased from the Gauteng province, two refuse trucks and one TLB. In addition, Radebe has promised to see to it that the 21 broken compactors are repaired, with the aim of having 36 working compactors by the end of April.
” The Freedom Front Plus is of the opinion that the municipality should have repaired the existing compactors and leased the necessary machinery a long time ago already. The aforementioned fleet is procured through a 36-month lease contract, which includes comprehensive maintenance. While this arrangement avoids large capital expenditure, the costs and contract conditions should be fully and transparently disclosed. Emfuleni’s severe financial challenges and history of poor management and qualified audits place an even greater responsibility on the administration to manage this project professionally and cost-effectively. Service delivery should never be election driven.”
