Critical calls go unattended as metro’s fleet disabled

unable to attend to critical calls”.

C-track confirmed it had terminated its services to Ekurhuleni at 6am yesterday because of non-payment.

A council official, who did not want to be identified, said hundreds of municipality-owned vehicles were fitted with the tracking device.

The electricity department was unable to attend to a Bedfordview power outage as well as a blackout in Boksburg.

The Saturday Star was first alerted by two metro officers who said their vehicles would not start.

Council spokesperson Themba Gadebe said the C-track contract had expired in September last year.

“Tracking units were not removed as an act of good faith until the new contractor was approved,” he said.

A total of 4 254 vehicles were fitted with the device but “they are operational”, he said.

“As far as we are concerned there are no monies owed to Digicore (C-track owners) after the expiry of the contract.

“However, we are aware that Digicore has submitted a claim for the period September 17 to January in respect of what they claim as limited services rendered in good faith.”

Hoods, meanwhile, accused the ANC-run metro of “continuously failing the residents of Ekurhuleni”.

“The people of Ekurhuleni rely on these critical services and as the DA, we will be holding the ANCled coalition accountable in every aspect for this dismal lack of planning,” Hoods said.

On its website, C-track described itself as a global supplier of vehicle tracking, insurance telematics and fleet management solutions.

“The C-Track government, local authorities and municipalities monitoring and tracking system allows local authorities and utility providers to scrutinise, assess and act on information in real time to limit theft and abuse of equipment and maximise the safety and productivity of employees,” the tracking company said on its website.