Siphelele Nketo 

THE purchase of new vehicles by the Greater Kokstad Municipality in KZN was welcomed with enthusiasm by Mayor Lwanda Madikizela who assured the public that the initiative forms part of an effort to address service delivery.

Madikizela said the municipality decided to focus on infrastructure development, citing the road maintenance and electricity.

“The council took a decision to purchase more vehicles to ensure that the municipality is able to respond to service delivery,” he said.

He added that the new vehicles will be highly monitored for misuse and encouraged members of the public to report if the vehicles are not used for what they intended.  

The Greater Kokstad Municipality manager of administration Nkululeko Mthimkulu explained that the purchased crew cab truck will be utilised mostly by Infrastructure and Technical Services to transport employees for infrastructure services more efficiently in poor weather conditions.

The latest skyjack, according to Mthimkulu, will be used for electrical services such as the repair of streetlights. 

“The new skyjack will add from the two existing ones which are a bit outdated,” he explained, adding that a new sedan vehicle will be used by librarians as well as for community and social services.

The disaster unit was allocated a new 4X4 bakkie, capable of coping even in snow seasons. Mthimkulu said the bakkie will be able to provide rescue and recovery services during emergencies since it has been equipped with a strong winch.

Another 4X4 bakkie was purchased for infrastructure and technical services, set to be used by the supervisor responsible for roads to ensure that teams are well supported in road maintenance.

Another 4X4 bakkie was given to the finance department to assist with meter reading even in farm areas.

The newly purchased skid steer loader will assist with pothole patching and road repairs.