The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has introduced restrictions on the use of its vehicles after fuel shortages and payment disputes with service stations reportedly affected its ability to refuel its fleet.
JMPD Chief of Police Patrick Jaca issued a directive to management on Wednesday, instructing officers and staff not to take departmental vehicles home after completing their duties.
The restriction applies to all JMPD members, regardless of rank or position, and will remain in place until further notice.
According to the directive, some service stations that previously supplied fuel to the department have withdrawn their support after the JMPD reached its credit limits. Other petrol stations have reportedly blocked or confiscated the department’s fuel cards over non-payment.
Jaca warned that the fuel shortages posed a “significant risk to operational continuity”, given the department’s 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.
JMPD vehicles must be parked at designated facilities
Under the new measures, all departmental vehicles must be returned to designated JMPD facilities once official duties have been completed.
The remaining fuel must be prioritised for visible policing, law enforcement, emergency responses and other critical departmental functions.
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, while unnecessary trips and fuel consumption must be avoided.
Jaca ordered managers to communicate the directive to all members under their command, including during parade briefings and shift meetings.
Members who fail to comply could face disciplinary action in line with departmental policies and procedures.
Officials barred from paying for fuel themselves
The directive also prohibits JMPD officials from using their personal money to purchase fuel for departmental vehicles.
Jaca said all refuelling must take place through officially approved departmental arrangements to protect financial accountability and ensure accurate fuel expenditure records.
The restrictions come amid wider concerns about the City of Johannesburg’s financial position and its ability to meet obligations to service providers. In June, reports highlighted disruptions involving the city’s vehicle fleet amid a payment dispute between the municipality and fleet service provider Afrirent. (Daily Maverick)
The latest directive indicates that fuel availability has become an operational concern for the JMPD, although the full financial implications and the duration of the restrictions have not been specified in the information provided.
