JMPD restricts vehicle use after petrol cards blocked over non-payment

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Opens in new windowOpens in new windowOpens in new windowOpens in new windowOpens in new windowOpens in new windowEnter fullscreen mode displaying this image.ExpandJMPD cannot afford to fuel its vehicles. Picture: Reuben Goldberg Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) is so broke that it cannot afford to fill up its patrol vehicles.

Some petrol stations that would usually fuel JMPD vehicles have even confiscated the unit’s petrol cards due to non-payment, while others have blocked them.

On Wednesday, JMPD chief of police Patrick Jaca issued a directive to management to prevent staff from taking work cars to their homes in an attempt to preserve fuel.

The immediate restriction applies to all JMPD members, regardless of position or rank, and will remain in force until further notice, Jaca warned.

He said some service stations that had been helping the JMPD to refuel withdrew their support after reaching their credit limits.

Jaca said the department’s fuel shortages posed a “significant risk to operational continuity”, given its responsibility to provide law enforcement and public safety services around the clock.

“It is therefore imperative that the limited fuel currently available be preserved and prioritised for essential operational activities,” the directive states.

Under the new rules, all departmental vehicles must be parked at designated JMPD facilities once official duties are completed. The remaining fuel must be reserved for visible policing, law enforcement, emergency response and other critical departmental functions, he said.

The directive also prohibits the use of state vehicles for personal purposes, including travelling between home and work.

Directors, regional commanders, unit commanders and managers have been instructed to ensure that vehicles are deployed only when operationally necessary and that unnecessary trips and fuel consumption are avoided.

“All directors, regional commanders, unit commanders and managers are instructed to communicate this directive to all members under their command immediately, including during parades and shift briefings,” wrote Jaca.

Jaca warned that failure to comply could lead to disciplinary action in line with departmental policies and procedures.

“Failure to comply with this directive may result in appropriate disciplinary action,” the memorandum stated.

The chief also prohibited officials from using their own money to buy fuel for departmental vehicles, warning that such arrangements could undermine financial accountability and the accuracy of fuel expenditure records.

“All refuelling must therefore be undertaken strictly through officially approved departmental arrangements,” it states.

The fuel restrictions are intended to safeguard the department’s limited resources, maintain operational readiness and minimise disruptions to essential policing services.

Jaca said all members were expected to exercise “the highest level of responsibility and cooperation” during the period.

Sowetan had sent questions to JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla on Thursday morning, and the story will be updated once he responds.

The latest development comes as JMPD is scrambling to procure a company that would provide it with speed cameras after its contract with their previous supplier, Syntell, lapsed in December. The city has had speed cameras since.