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Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) vehicles that were sent for repairs last year have not been returned from the dealerships due to non-payment.

The ANC run Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality owes millions of Rands to several vehicle dealerships for repairs carried out on EMPD vehicles.

This already under-resourced and under-staffed department has been crippled by the depletion of its fleet and as a result cannot operate effectively or efficiently. Visible policing is now at an all-time low.

The safety of Ekurhuleni residents is now under threat as there are fewer metro police officers on the roads to enforce traffic laws and by-laws.

Once again the ANC administration of Ekurhuleni has fallen foul of the law by not adhering to the stipulated 30 day payment cycle. Businesses trying to survive in this harsh economy are hit hardest by ANC governments who do not pay their bills on time, as this leads to job losses and growing unemployment.

The DA has tabled questions in the Gauteng Provisional Legislature to determine the number of EMPD vehicles that have not been released by dealerships due to non-payment, why these services providers have not been paid within the stipulated 30 days, who the service providers are and the amount of money owed to each.

We will not allow the incompetency of the ANC administration in Ekurhuleni to thwart a key service.

The DA will continue to put pressure on both Gauteng Department of Community Safety MEC, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane and Gauteng Premier, David Makhura to ensure that these service providers are paid and the repaired EMPD vehicles are released to service the Ekurhuleni residents.

Issued by DA