Today 20 October 2023, we conducted an unannounced in loco inspection at a vehicle repair centre for vehicles belonging to the City of Tshwane, especially those of the Metro Police Department (TMPD) and the Emergency Services Department (ESD). With vehicle up-time availability floating on average at approximately 50% for most essential service vehicles, it became urgent to conduct an unannounced in-loco visit.
What was a seismic disturbance to us upon arrival at the service centre were some of the reasons these vehicles were there for. These ranged from a change of tyre (tyre burst), wheel alignment and balancing, brakes or battery replacement among others. Repairs and maintenance that should not take more that 24 hours end up taking in access of 60 days to change a tyre, 1200 days for a battery.
The service provider intimated that the deficiency in the Supply Chain and Finance processes of the city were largely responsible for this state of delay where they often wait 7 or more days upon receipt of a vehicle before they receive a purchase order. Payment of invoices is also often delayed, which can be attributed to the current state of the city’s finance coupled with indolence and dereliction of duty by some officials.
In May 2023 a Community Safety Committee Report depicted a grim picture of a City hamstrung, rendered ineffective and under capacitated due to its fleet being held in the repair centers for extended periods of time. It is inevitable that fleet will suffer breakages, notwithstanding, the work of the Metro Police and Emergency Services must continue, that fleet repairs take an exceptionally extended amount to time is deeply concerning.
Furthermore, approximately 8 service providers used as repairs and service centers to so while being unmonitored. This means that vehicle availability at one point in the Emergency Services Department accumulated to a combined 7000 days for 23 vehicles.
At this rate of vehicle availability for the various services to be carried out by the City is not only worrying but also expensive for the City.
As ActionSA, believing in professionalising public service, it is urgent and critical that we ensure a turn-around strategy to streamline the process that will ensure that the department will increase vehicle availability, service delivery output and deep social positive impact.
To this end, there will be further engagements with the MMC’s of Community Safety, Finance and Corporate and Shared Services to ascertain that a clearer process flow is introduced which will reduce the amount of time it takes from the time a vehicle is booked with the repair centre for improved service provision to the residents of Tshwane.
ActionSA’s Unannounced Inspection at TMPD Vehicle Repair Center in Silvertondale Unearths Systematic Deficiencies
Today 20 October 2023, we conducted an unannounced in loco inspection at a vehicle repair centre for vehicles belonging to the City of Tshwane, especially those of the Metro Police Department (TMPD) and the Emergency Services Department (ESD). With vehicle up-time availability floating on average at approximately 50% for most essential service vehicles, it became urgent to conduct an unannounced in-loco visit.
What was a seismic disturbance to us upon arrival at the service centre were some of the reasons these vehicles were there for. These ranged from a change of tyre (tyre burst), wheel alignment and balancing, brakes or battery replacement among others. Repairs and maintenance that should not take more that 24 hours end up taking in access of 60 days to change a tyre, 1200 days for a battery.
The service provider intimated that the deficiency in the Supply Chain and Finance processes of the city were largely responsible for this state of delay where they often wait 7 or more days upon receipt of a vehicle before they receive a purchase order. Payment of invoices is also often delayed, which can be attributed to the current state of the city’s finance coupled with indolence and dereliction of duty by some officials.
In May 2023 a Community Safety Committee Report depicted a grim picture of a City hamstrung, rendered ineffective and under capacitated due to its fleet being held in the repair centers for extended periods of time. It is inevitable that fleet will suffer breakages, notwithstanding, the work of the Metro Police and Emergency Services must continue, that fleet repairs take an exceptionally extended amount to time is deeply concerning.
Furthermore, approximately 8 service providers used as repairs and service centers to so while being unmonitored. This means that vehicle availability at one point in the Emergency Services Department accumulated to a combined 7000 days for 23 vehicles.
At this rate of vehicle availability for the various services to be carried out by the City is not only worrying but also expensive for the City.
As ActionSA, believing in professionalising public service, it is urgent and critical that we ensure a turn-around strategy to streamline the process that will ensure that the department will increase vehicle availability, service delivery output and deep social positive impact.
To this end, there will be further engagements with the MMC’s of Community Safety, Finance and Corporate and Shared Services to ascertain that a clearer process flow is introduced which will reduce the amount of time it takes from the time a vehicle is booked with the repair centre for improved service provision to the residents of Tshwane.