The DA revealed on Thursday that 56% of police stations cannot be reached by telephone. (Photo: DA/X)
More than half of the police stations cannot be reached by telephone. This is evident from a nationwide audit conducted by the DA in which 1,025 police stations’ official telephone numbers were tested.
According to Ian Cameron, DA deputy police spokesperson, the audit found that 571 police stations did not answer their phones, while only 454 answered calls to one or both of their registered phone numbers.
This means that 56% of police stations cannot be reached by phone, while only 44% answered calls.
Limpopo fared the worst, with 78 of the province’s 87 police stations not answering calls. The Free State performed the second worst.
The DA says the audit also found that several police stations in areas considered to be high crime priorities were not reachable by phone.
Glynnis Breytenbach and Ian Cameron. (Photo: DA/X)
According to Cameron, the findings are consistent with problems that were identified earlier during the DA’s review visit regarding the 10111 emergency communication centre. Officers pointed out, among other things, staff shortages, communication challenges, outdated technology and difficulties in contacting police stations.
“A Police Service that cannot be consistently reached by the public cannot carry out its mandate effectively,” says Cameron.
The DA now intends to present the findings of the audit to the Minister of Police and the National Police Commissioner and will insist on steps to improve the public’s access to police stations.
The party argues that the inability to reach police stations by phone can have serious consequences for victims and communities in need of quick police assistance.
George Michalakis, parliamentary leader of the DA. (Photo: DA/X)
Jan de Villiers, spokesperson for that DA. (Photo: DA/X)