ActionSA is extremely disappointed at the glaring failures of the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (DRT) in the 2023/2024 fiscal year. The DRT’s shortcomings have had a profound impact on our communities, and it is time for us to demand accountability and change.
To say that the DRT has failed dismally to involve township-owned businesses in projects related to the Gauteng Township Economy Development Act would be a gross understatement. Despite the department’s claims that it had notified and invited businesses from local townships; but the response rate from targeted businesses was disappointingly low, with the existing bid evaluation regulations posing further obstacles; our research reveals that most businesses operating in the targeted areas never knew of such invitations.
This effectively means the public invitations by the DRT were not done in a manner conducive to getting our township businesses involved but was more of a tick-box exercise intended to protect those who already have the tenders. This highlights the need for a complete re-evaluation of the current approach and potential modifications to legal frameworks to facilitate greater inclusion of township businesses.
Moreover, the DRT’s project management capabilities are also questionable. Several projects experienced delays, such as the design of P241/1 – a road with high traffic volumes that connects Johannesburg and Lenasia, which will only be completed this December 2024 while our residents here in Gauteng have been raising this need for a long time. These delays emphasize the need for more efficient project planning and execution.
G-Fleet Management is another sore thumb. Though being a critical component of the DRT, it has faced numerous challenges, where we have witnessed the existing Fleet Information System (FIS) fail, making it difficult to assess their impact on operational efficiency. The new Integrated Fleet Management System (IFMS) faced delays due to capacity challenges at e-Government (e-Gov) long before implementation, but very little action was taken to address it.
The increase in the number of leased vehicles being stolen and hijacked this year, as reported by the department, is alarming as it raises concerns about security measures put in place and the safety of departmental assets. In the report, there is no action plan on how to deal with this matter and how
the necessary tools will be used to reduce this challenge. As custodians of these assets, the department cannot be nonchalant when there is such an increase in crime related to the assets it manages. This department has a responsibility to ensure the safekeeping of its assets to gain public trust.
Furthermore, a vacancy rate of 21% at G-Fleet Management as of March 2024, as indicated in the report, is worrying considering that Gauteng has highly skilled people who remain unemployed, yet we have such a high level of vacancies. This could negatively impact on the entity’s ability to deliver services effectively and achieve its strategic goals.
While the DRT has made some progress in infrastructure development, job creation, and expanding transport services, the criticisms related to township business participation, underspending, project delays, and challenges within G-Fleet Management and TAG indicate areas requiring urgent attention.
ActionSA demands accountability and the time is now for the department to serve and ensure that the transportation needs of Gauteng residents are effectively met. The time is now for the Department to ensure that our roads are well maintained to keep them operational and to prevent them from degrading to a point that they must be rebuilt from scratch.
As ActionSA we further believe that it is better and more economical to maintain roads than to spend money on rebuilding the same roads before the end of their lifespan. The Department can save millions by so doing.
ActionSA Bemoans Departmental Failures, Calls for Accountability and a More Inclusive Approach to Benefit Township Businesses
ActionSA is extremely disappointed at the glaring failures of the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (DRT) in the 2023/2024 fiscal year. The DRT’s shortcomings have had a profound impact on our communities, and it is time for us to demand accountability and change.
To say that the DRT has failed dismally to involve township-owned businesses in projects related to the Gauteng Township Economy Development Act would be a gross understatement. Despite the department’s claims that it had notified and invited businesses from local townships; but the response rate from targeted businesses was disappointingly low, with the existing bid evaluation regulations posing further obstacles; our research reveals that most businesses operating in the targeted areas never knew of such invitations.
This effectively means the public invitations by the DRT were not done in a manner conducive to getting our township businesses involved but was more of a tick-box exercise intended to protect those who already have the tenders. This highlights the need for a complete re-evaluation of the current approach and potential modifications to legal frameworks to facilitate greater inclusion of township businesses.
Moreover, the DRT’s project management capabilities are also questionable. Several projects experienced delays, such as the design of P241/1 – a road with high traffic volumes that connects Johannesburg and Lenasia, which will only be completed this December 2024 while our residents here in Gauteng have been raising this need for a long time. These delays emphasize the need for more efficient project planning and execution.
G-Fleet Management is another sore thumb. Though being a critical component of the DRT, it has faced numerous challenges, where we have witnessed the existing Fleet Information System (FIS) fail, making it difficult to assess their impact on operational efficiency. The new Integrated Fleet Management System (IFMS) faced delays due to capacity challenges at e-Government (e-Gov) long before implementation, but very little action was taken to address it.
The increase in the number of leased vehicles being stolen and hijacked this year, as reported by the department, is alarming as it raises concerns about security measures put in place and the safety of departmental assets. In the report, there is no action plan on how to deal with this matter and how
the necessary tools will be used to reduce this challenge. As custodians of these assets, the department cannot be nonchalant when there is such an increase in crime related to the assets it manages. This department has a responsibility to ensure the safekeeping of its assets to gain public trust.
Furthermore, a vacancy rate of 21% at G-Fleet Management as of March 2024, as indicated in the report, is worrying considering that Gauteng has highly skilled people who remain unemployed, yet we have such a high level of vacancies. This could negatively impact on the entity’s ability to deliver services effectively and achieve its strategic goals.
While the DRT has made some progress in infrastructure development, job creation, and expanding transport services, the criticisms related to township business participation, underspending, project delays, and challenges within G-Fleet Management and TAG indicate areas requiring urgent attention.
ActionSA demands accountability and the time is now for the department to serve and ensure that the transportation needs of Gauteng residents are effectively met. The time is now for the Department to ensure that our roads are well maintained to keep them operational and to prevent them from degrading to a point that they must be rebuilt from scratch.
As ActionSA we further believe that it is better and more economical to maintain roads than to spend money on rebuilding the same roads before the end of their lifespan. The Department can save millions by so doing.