R370m or fuel cards cut up

The National Prosecuting Authority and Office of the Chief Justice are among 90 state institutions that owe R370-million to a company that provides them with vehicles.

And, unless they pay up, their petrol cards will be suspended.

Details about the millions of rands owed to G-Fleet Management emerged when the Gauteng provincial roads and transport department briefed the provincial transport portfolio committee on Friday.

G-Fleet is a trading entity of the Gauteng department of roads and transport and is described on its website as a "a provider of vehicle leasing and fleet management services for the public sector".

It operates a fleet of 7094 vehicles across the country.

G-Fleet's acting CEO, Noxolo Maninjwa, told committee members that letters of demand had been sent to state institutions, including national and provincial government departments, asking them to settle bills before March 20.

The Gauteng department of health owed more than R109-million as of February 28.

The office of the Chief Justice owed R71-million, Home Affairs R71-million, Gauteng's department of infrastructure and development R12-million and the NPAR11-million.

"We've been in constant discussion with the service provider that is managing the fuel cards for us and said.if a [client] has not paid us for at least more than 60 days - which is beyond the 30-day period - [we should] begin to terminate or suspend the services that we are providing," said Maninjwa.

He said that failure to settle the accounts would lead to a "suspension of fuel card services". Departments would be billed for re-activating fuel cards.

But some institutions have disputed the amount they owe.

The Office of the Chief Justice said the R71-million debt had been partially settled and the full amount would be paid by the end of this month.

"According to our records the outstanding amount is R26399256. The invoice.will be verified and settled before March 31 2017," said spokesman Nathi Mncube.

The NPA's Luvuyo Mfaku said: "The account with G-Fleet is up to date as from March 8 2017."

Gauteng health department spokesman Prince Hamnca said: "The department owes G-Fleet an amount of R74-million for use of.vehicles, including fuel. It has issued a payment plan to G-Fleet to settle the amount over two months with effect from April."

Home Affairs spokesman Mayi-hlome Tshwete said the department owed "only R38-million and the debt was for prior years when we decentralised functions to provinces. According to our records, for the current financial year we are up to date.

"In certain instances, there are cars that were written off in accidents and G-Fleet has not taken them off their records and they are still charging the department."