3 days ago
Tshwane unveils new cherry pickers to get services off the ground
Tshwane unveils new cherry pickers to get services off the ground
Non-functional streetlights and non-regular tree pruning could be things of the past for Tshwane after the metro unveiled a fleet of 14 cherry pickers to get service delivery off the ground.
The metro unveiled 14 out of its 100 cherry picker fleet on June 3, aimed to reduce reliance on costly private contractors, improve service delivery turnaround times and address deteriorating services.
Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya and MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Kholofelo Morodi, officially received the fleet of new cherry pickers and oversaw the reopening of the Pretorius Park fleet workshop in the east of Pretoria.
Approval of Embedded Generation and Energy Wheeling Policies-a bog step on the City's energy transition Media Statement @CityTshwane @kholofeloMorodi @nasiphim
— MMC Frans Boshielo (@MMCBoshielo) June 2, 2025
According to Morodi, this forms part of his administration's broader strategy to reduce dependence on private contractors and rebuild the city's internal technical and operational capacity.
'The acquisition of municipal-owned cherry pickers is aimed at enabling city departments to carry out critical maintenance and repairs directly, without the delays and excessive costs associated with outsourcing,' she said.
Morodi said for years, basic services in Tshwane were handed over to external contractors, often at enormous expense to ratepayers.
'During this period, internal departments were left without the tools, personnel or infrastructure to respond effectively to community needs,' she explained.
'The result was slower turnaround times, poor accountability, and deteriorating service delivery.'
Morodi explained the importance of reopening the Pretorius Park depot.
'The reopening of the Pretorius Park depot gives the city an operational hub to manage its growing fleet, ensuring quicker response times, better control over resources, and improved transparency in the use of public funds,' she said.
'The workshop was closed due to outsourcing of workshop services. The reopening of this facility will enable the metro to enhance fleet management capabilities, reduce downtime, and improve overall efficiency using its own internal staff,' she added.
According to Morodi, the workshop will focus on vehicles for water and sanitation, energy and electricity, thereby reducing the turnaround time for repairs of vehicles servicing these critical departments.
'The handover of cherry pickers and the revival of the fleet workshop reflect a shift in focus: away from private interests and toward public value. These developments form part of a wider effort to fix the fundamentals of service delivery – getting resources to the ground where they are most needed and ensuring communities receive reliable, dignified services.'
We had promised residents that we build in-house capability and reduce reliance on contractors. Today's launch also included the re-opening of the City of Tshwane's Pretorius Park Workshop Depot. This workshop was closed for over 6 years as the City relied on contractors and…
— Dr Nasiphi Moya (@nasiphim) June 3, 2025
Moya said the unveiled cherry pickers will be distributed to regional teams to enhance service delivery.
'This first batch of 14 vehicles forms part 100 that we expect in this financial year,' she said.
She said for years, the Tshwane workforce has grappled with a shortage of tools to do its work. This is a turning point in providing reliable services to our residents.
'We have over 18 000 officials in Tshwane. They were all complaining about tools of trade, so we are on the right step of providing them with tools to do their work.
'We had promised residents we would build in-house capability and reduce reliance on contractors,' she said.
The Pretorius Park Workshop Depot was closed for over six years as the city relied on contractors and further located depots to service vehicles.
Moya said some other equipment and trade tools will be unveiled this financial year.
Just rode in one of our brand-new cherrypickers at the Pretorius Park Depot.
This isn't just a vehicle — it's a symbol of Tshwane valuing our workers as well, which is why these trucks have a crew cab.
We're rebuilding capacity, cutting waste, and delivering for our people.…
— Kholofelo Morodi (@kholofeloMorodi) June 3, 2025
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