The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is not convinced that the Emfuleni Local Municipality’s leasing a fleet of 145 new vehicles will resolve the service delivery crisis.
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.
Residents of Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging have spent years waiting for reliable service delivery, cleaner streets, working street lights and swifter response to complaints.
The first 50 vehicles (which included 25 service vehicles, 15 bakkies and 10 sedans) were handed over to the Department of Public Safety on 16 February 2026. This could increase visible policing and possibly help combat crime.
On 17 February, another 30 vehicles (10 bakkies and 20 sedans) will 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, the Mayor 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.
The Freedom Front Plus will exercise strict oversight and hold the administration accountable to ensure these new resources are not just a gimmick, but used to bring about measurable improvements in service delivery.
Freedom Front Plus Education: The FF Plus calls for quality education and the protection of language rights in schools.
Cloudfrenzy
Braai – a barbecue [brr-rye] Also known as a barbecue where steak, lamb chops and of course ‘boerewors’ is cooked on a grid over wood and flames. Add some salads, rolls and ‘melktert’ for dessert and you are set for a traditional South African braai.
Snake Eyes
Fun South African Fact: Some of the earliest evidence of human evolution has been unearthed at fossil sites northwest of Johannesburg in the Sterkfontein Caves! Archaeologists have discovered human remains here, some of which are more than 2 million years old! These discoveries have earned the area the title of “the Cradle of Humankind” which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.