The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is deeply concerned about fuel losses exceeding R13 million that are crippling service delivery in the already struggling Ekurhuleni Metro.
According to the performance report by the Department of Transport Planning, Roads and Stormwater for the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year, losses were recorded at seven of the Metroโs fuel depots.
A criminal case has already been filed with the police, and departmental employees are reportedly implicated in the investigation.
The Kempton Park depot, where the largest discrepancy was identified, is temporarily closed pending the outcome of internal and external investigations.
The police investigation highlights the seriousness of the matter and confirms the extent of the risk that Ekurhuleni has allowed to develop for a long time.
An internal audit conducted on 23 June this year at depots in Alberton, Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan, Kempton Park and Nigel confirmed a combined shortfall of R13 349 248,70.
Such a significant shortfall raises serious questions about stock monitoring and the integrity of the supply-chain system used for managing thousands of litres of fuel, which the Metro needs daily.
What makes this finding even more alarming is that a departmental review indicated that fuel management falls under the Finance Departmentโs supply-chain management division, exposing further weaknesses in the Metroโs internal control systems.
As a member of the relevant departmental oversight committee, the Freedom Front Plus expressed grave concern about how such a massive loss of public assets could occur without being detected earlier.
The scale of the shortfall only came to light after the internal audit highlighted it.
The committee recommended that the matter be referred to the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) for a comprehensive investigation, and the Council accepted the recommendation. The MPAC was requested to submit its first progress report to the Council by 28 February 2026.
Ekurhuleni residents should not have to tolerate poor service delivery while fuel worth millions of rand simply disappears from depots.
This incident highlights systemic weaknesses that should be addressed at once. The Freedom Front Plus will keep monitoring the situation until the truth regarding the fuel losses has been uncovered and all guilty parties have been brought to book.
