Transport MEC Thandiswa Marawu addresses media on in-source government fleet management services
1 Feb 2012
Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, Roads and Public Works, Thandiswa Marawu earlier today addressed members of media about the Department of Transport’s state of readiness to in-source government fleet management services at Government Garage in East London.
“Yesterday marked the conclusion of a 24 Month Transfer Extension Agreement between Provincial Government and Fleet Africa Eastern Cape with a 'transfer plan' for the next three months to conclude the agreement. This arrangement is in line with the concept of the developmental state, which encourages the improvement of the technical capacity of the state so as to encourage the in-sourcing of government operational services”, said MEC for Transport, Thandiswa Marawu.
Through outsourcing, the provincial government lost its capacity to immediately perform the fleet management function by itself. Skills had been lost, not only of management and other clerical functions but also mechanical skills.
A trading entity is currently being established over the next three months technically operate on business principles “without” a profit as we believe that the efficiency and effectiveness will be of utmost importance in order to successfully service our sister departments with all fleet requirements based on fleet management principles aligned to government.
The trading entity will be a unit within the department which will be under the department’s Accounting Officer and the department of the head of the entity is in the process.
MEC said that on Tuesday, 31 January 2012 the service provider, namely, First Auto who was awarded the Fuel, Repair and Maintenance contract by National Treasury, addressed the fleet managers as well as started the implementation process of handing out the fuel cards for the interim period of four months which aligns government to the transition period of three months with Fleet Africa Eastern Cape phase-out approach.
“The handling out of cards was done and priority was given to EMRS (emergency services vehicles) first and then the administration. A total of 2 311 petrol cards have been delivered and the balance of 135 cards is expected today. Fleet managers are expected to monitor the distribution of these cards. The continuation of the services without disruption in the areas of fuelling, repairing and maintenance will continue as normal just through the utilising of the First Auto Fuel Card and all calls will be addressed through their call centre number 086 010 2393” said MEC.
MEC explained that opportunities for small, medium and micro-enterprise (SMME) are aligned to the plan of the RT 46 in the manner that they will be evaluated in respect to the ability to service the commodity, namely: the vehicle which needs a lot of compliance. The department has identified that the rotational base of sharing the work was going to be very important as this will be part of embracing the SMMEs into the fold.
“On 14 and 15 February 2012, we are going to host a Seminar on the In-sourcing of Government Fleet here in East London, where we are going to invite all relevant role players and interested SMMEs”, she said.
The department has identified that abuse of the vehicles is still inevitable and therefore the department will embark on regular road blocks specifically targeting government vehicles to ensure that the user has all his/her trip authorisation papers in place, failing to abide, the costing of abuse will be charged to the said department which should then recover the money from the individual through disciplinary action.
The re-registration of the vehicles will take place during the transfer period back to the GG number plate which is governments own identification personalised number plate.
The trading entity has taken into account all the departments’ needs especially in the rural areas the right vehicles are utilised in the right environment.
Concluding the briefing MEC assured all government officials and the people of the Eastern Cape that provincial government is ready and more than capable to take over this crucial service.
Issued by: Eastern Cape Transport
1 Feb 2012
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