The recall of the City of Johannesburg’s vehicles is a result of a long fight against corruption, which we are determined to win while delivering quality services to residents. This crisis is a direct result of the attempts by the Coalition of Corruption led by the ANC to capture the City’s resources at the expense of service delivery. I would like to assure all residents that the vehicles being recalled are temporary while we put emergency measures in place to protect our fleet.
The current fleet affected is what we call the non-specialised fleet: the trucks, vans, cars, and bakkies that are used by JMPD, City Power, Joburg Water, and all other branded City vehicles. The contract for the lease of this fleet is with Afrirent and Avis, and it expired on 31 October 2022. The City has more than enough funds to pay for the fleet, but we cannot pay for something that is not within a legal contract term. The Pikitup waste management fleet is not affected by this contract.
The non-specialised fleet contract dates back to 2018 when the previous DA-led coalition government was forced into a corner by officials. The contract with Afrirent and Avis was declared irregular by National Treasury, which in 2020 ordered the City to cancel the contract and conduct a thorough forensic investigation. While the City’s own investigation cleared the DA-led coalition government of interference in the contract, AmaBhungane uncovered a trail of money that led from Afrirent to senior opposition political leaders. Subsequent forensic investigations by the City implicated a number of senior officials.
It was my first priority to see that these implicated officials face justice, and we have been working all year to put a clean tender process in place, but this has been hampered by constant delays and distractions. It is telling that the only priority of the illegal government under Cllr Dada Morero was to push through the new fleet contract which miraculously cleared all the hurdles. Fortunately, the courts restored us to office and we were able to halt the contract while we complete our investigations.
As a short-term solution, we had to extend the Afrirent and Avis contract, which was better than risking a massive long-term disaster if the tender was not above board. This required Council approval which the Speaker went out of her way to block, knowing full well that the City faced disaster with service providers withdrawing our vehicles. Sadly this has started, but the Acting City Manager is close to finalising the contract extension, and we are working to have our fleet back on the road by next week.
My promise to the residents of Johannesburg is that I will do everything in my power to avoid disaster. Under the guidance of our Executive Mayor, Cllr Mpho Phalatse, the Multi-Party Government will never allow any tender through that does not meet the highest standards for clean and honest governance.
Media enquiries:
McKinnley Mitchell
Communications and Stakeholder Manager
Office of the MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services
mckinnleym@joburg.org.za | 078 800 3047
17/11/2022
