The mayor’s office has confirmed that the Johannesburg Metro Police Department’s (JMPD) fuel card crisis has been resolved, with the cards now being used at petrol stations.
This comes hours after Sowetan reported that the metro police’s fuel crisis was threatening to reduce the number of patrol vehicles on the city’s streets.
Chief of police Patrick Jaca had issued an internal memo instructing managers to limit vehicles’ movement to preserve fuel. He also barred officers of all ranks from taking state vehicles home.
However, an internal notice issued late on Thursday said JMPD fuel cards had been unblocked following a disruption linked to the city’s transition from one banking service provider to another.
“Please be advised that fuel card issues have been resolved and the cards are now unblocked,” the notice stated.
“Fuel-saving measures and controls remain in place. Members must avoid private trips and ensure that departmental vehicles are used strictly for authorised official duties.”
The notice also warned that vehicle abuse would be closely monitored, including unnecessary idling while vehicles were stationary.
Mayoral spokesperson Khathutshelo Mulaudzi said the disruption to JMPD fuel cards was linked to the city’s transition between banking service providers, which had temporarily affected payment processing.
“The executive mayor is aware of the disruption to the JMPD fuel cards. As JMPD has confirmed, it is linked to the city’s transition from one banking service provider to another, which has temporarily affected the processing of payments,” Mulaudzi said.
Mulaudzi said mayor Dada Morero had directed that the matter be resolved urgently and also asked to be kept informed until normal fuelling of the JMPD fleet resumes.
“The city is working to complete the processing of payments affected by the transition so that the fleet can return to full operation.”
She said the city and the service provider had met and reached an agreement on the way forward, including matters relating to payments.
She also said the disruption arose from the transition from one service provider to another, which required engagements between the service provider and the city.
“These engagements also took into account compliance matters arising from findings raised by the auditor-general of South Africa, which the city has been directed to respond to in line with the applicable requirements,” Mulaudzi said.
Jaca had issued a directive to preserve fuel after some petrol stations withdrew support or capped JMPD accounts over unpaid bills.
He had said the fuel shortages posed a “significant risk to operational continuity”.
“It is therefore imperative that the limited fuel currently available be preserved and prioritised for essential operational activities,” the directive stated.
Sowetan
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