BCM spends R91m to secure new vehicles

In a bid to fast-track service delivery Buffalo City Metro has spent R91-million on a brand new fleet of vehicles for its staff and municipal service departments, with some vehicles in use and some set to be unveiled next month.

BCM’s engineering services portfolio head, Ncedo Kumbaca, said the move is part of the metro’s “recapitalisation” strategy, which seeks to minimise the outsourcing of services.

When the Daily Dispatch visited the department a fleet of 30 new white V W Polo Vivos were parked on the premises along with five new bright yellow tractor-loader backhoe (TLB) trucks.

Kumbaca told the Daily Dispatch that eight water tankers, 10 cherry pickers, six vacuum tankers and 20 crew cabs were also bought and will soon be delivered.

“This will help us improve management of our resources and will help us increase the speed of service delivery in most parts of the metro, especially in the rural areas,” said Kumbaca.

The new vehicles that have just arrived are being stored at the fleet department in Braelyn.

“We used to spend close to a R100million on water services. This fleet of water tankers will save the metro money and service delivery in rural areas will be fast-tracked.

“The TLBs will help us in the eradication of illegal dumping sites and we will be opening up employment opportunities as we need each truck to have its own designated driver,” he said, as these vehicles will join an existing fleet. He added that the cherry pickers, which are also known as boom lifts or basket cranes, will assist in the health and safety of its workers.

During the council open day held at the City Hall on Wednesday, BCM mayor Xola Pakati said R67-million had been allocated for the waste management department and “20 compactor trucks have been procured and will be delivered by the end of June”.

“We believe that this will go a long way in ensuring that we clear illegal dumps and optimise on our waste collection,” said Pakati.

The compactor trucks, which are yet to arrive, are set to form part of the official unveiling scheduled for June 13.

Community Services acting head of department, Howard Sikweza said R54-million of the R91-million was spent on the 20 refuse trucks.

According to portfolio head of Community Services Helen NealMay, the trucks will be divided between the metro’s coastal, inland and midland regions.

She said “the trucks will make a huge difference in areas such as Parkside and Duncan Village that have illegal dumping sites”.

Last year, the Daily Dispatch reported that BCM needed R85-million to buy enough new vehicles to replace its ageing fleet.

At the time the metro had about 400 vehicles older than 10 years.