The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has sought to assure residents that fuel card administrative matters affecting departmental vehicles have been fully resolved, and all cards are now unblocked and functioning normally.
The JMPD came under fire from ActionSA who accused the Mayor Dada Morero of ineptitude.
Marcel Coutriers, ActionSA Joburg MMC Candidate for Public Safety, said that city that cannot keep its metro police on the road cannot promise safer streets. What is particularly troubling is that this is not new. In December 2024, ActionSA warned about fleet services being suspended amid a dispute with Afrirent over outstanding payments, but our warnings were ignored.
“This is not an accounting dispute. It is a public safety crisis. When JMPD vehicles are grounded, patrols stop, response times suffer, visibility declines, and criminals perceive less risk of being caught. Residents who already feel unsafe are left wondering if help will arrive,” said
In June 2026, reporting again linked JMPD vehicles being grounded to a payment dispute. These recurring failures demand answers about the City’s financial management and contract administration.
The JMPD’s Xolani Fihla has today come out to assure members of the public that the matter has been resolved.
“The temporary blockage was not an internal JMPD issue, but rather an administrative matter at the City level during a transitional arrangement between the City of Johannesburg and the service provider. The JMPD emphasises that no operational activities or law enforcement deployments were affected or compromised during this transitional period. The situation was managed internally to ensure that visible policing and emergency responses continued without disruption. While standard fuel-saving measures, internal fleet controls, and vehicle monitoring remain in place to promote responsible municipal management, law enforcement operations proceed smoothly across all regions,” he said.
He said residents should be reassured that JMPD officers remain on the ground continuously enforcing traffic regulations, municipal by-laws, and crime prevention measures. High-visibility patrols and targeted operations remain active across every part of the city, with specialised focus on identified hot spots and key areas of concern.
“Our commitment to visible policing and maintaining public safety throughout Johannesburg remains unwavering. Every area of the city will continue to receive dedicated, relentless law enforcement coverage,” said Fihla.
Members of the public are encouraged to report suspicious activities, by-law infringements, or traffic emergencies to the City of Johannesburg Emergency Communications Centre at 011 375 5911 or 011 674 0144.