Concern over nearly 300 police vehicles off the road

Nearly 300 Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) vehicles are currently out of service, raising concerns about the metro’s ability to maintain visible policing, enforce municipal bylaws and respond effectively to crime.

The issue has renewed concerns about public safety after Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Jacob Mamabolo revealed that 297 of the department’s 1,498 vehicles are unavailable due to mechanical breakdowns, maintenance, and accident damage. Only 1,201 vehicles are currently operational.

In a joint response by the City of Ekurhuleni and the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Mamabolo said the grounded vehicles include those that have developed mechanical faults, are undergoing routine maintenance or repairs, or have been damaged in accidents. Their unavailability has reduced the number of patrol vehicles available for visible policing, traffic enforcement, and rapid response across Ekurhuleni.

“Maintaining a reliable fleet remains critical to ensuring effective visibility, rapid response, and public safety across the City,” Mamabolo said, adding that the City should continue strengthening the management of its operational resources.

Mamabolo also stressed the importance of balancing adequate policing resources with responsible financial management.

“The challenge is to strike the right balance between providing our officers with the resources they need to keep communities safe and ensuring that every rand spent delivers maximum value for residents. Strong financial management and operational planning remain essential components of capable local government,” he said.

The response, however, does not provide a timeline for when the proposed interventions will be implemented or when the city’s operational challenges are expected to be resolved.

Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, MPL and the DA’s mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni, said the shortage of operational vehicles continued to hamper the department’s ability to carry out its core functions.

“The Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department continues to struggle to enforce municipal by-laws, ensure traffic control, and prevent crime due to 297 non-functional vehicles. This challenge is crippling the EMPD and negatively impacts its ability to maintain police visibility and ensure residents’ safety,” Rasilingwane said.

He said the party would seek further details from the Mamabolo on when the vehicles would be returned to service, what budget had been allocated for fleet maintenance, and what interim measures had been put in place to ensure effective visible policing while the vehicles remain off the road.

The latest figures come less than a year after the City unveiled a new fleet of 68 EMPD vehicles, including 50 VW Polos, 10 GTIs and eight motorbikes, saying the investment would improve crime prevention, traffic policing and response times, particularly during the festive season.

The challenges facing the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department come amid similar fleet-related problems experienced by other municipalities.

Earlier this year, the Emfuleni Local Municipality’s vehicle fleet was grounded after the municipality ran out of diesel, leaving waste collection, electricity repairs, and other critical services at a standstill. The crisis was attributed to delays in appointing a new fuel supplier following the expiry of the municipality’s fuel contract, highlighting how operational and procurement failures can severely disrupt service delivery.