City's high fuel bill scrutinised

THE eThekwini Municipality's fuel consumption bill came under the spotlight at an Executive Committee (Exco) meeting, on Tuesday, when it emerged that R86 million was spent in 2025 alone.

- ZAINUL DAWOOD

The eThekwini city fleet monthly report for March 2025 presented to the eThekwini Finance committee, last week, detailed the fuel consumption for the municipal fleet of 9 240 vehicles including 565 Durban Transport buses and heavy construction plant items. The units allocated the most vehicles are; water and sanitation - 2074; electricity department -1850; Parks - 860; and Cleansing and Solid Waste (CSW) – 858.

The municipality's fuel consumption analysis report between January 2025 and March 2025 amounted to R86m. The report also detailed the distance travelled by each department and the cost of fuel in the three months. The city fleet also used about 4.3 million litres of fuel and travelled an estimated 17.6m kilometres in three months.