Photo for illustration. (Photo: Archive)
The number of working police vehicles in the North West has decreased by 433 vehicles in the last five years, which means that there is only one vehicle for every four police officers.
This is what Ofentse Mokae, DA MP and member of the selected committee on security and justice, says after a parliamentary surveillance visit was made to this province this week.
According to him, there is only one vehicle available per shift for every two to three officers and this is insufficient for effective policing in vast and rural areas.
Furthermore, this province has also not had a provincial police commissioner for two years.
“The DA will hold the government accountable for policing failures in this province through meetings of the security and justice committee in parliament and present it to the acting minister of police when he appears before the National Council of Provinces.”
Mokae emphasizes that these gaps are evident at the Hartbeesfontein, Coligny and Stilfontein police stations.
“Some of these police stations serve more than 60 farms and formal residences. This seriously hampers the police’s ability to deal with criminal activities and elements in their areas.”
According to the DA, the Hartbeesfontein police station is badly affected.
Mokae says that approximately 38% of the detention cells are not in a usable condition. 45% of the building’s offices are also not connected to a generator during power outages and 14% of the building does not have access to running water.
The DA has expressed its concern about the serious policing gaps and believes the problems have an influence on the increase in crime in the Matlosana area.
“What makes the situation worse is that the Tigane satellite police station, which is meant to relieve the pressure from the Hartbeesfontein station, was vandalized by the community during protest marches in 2017. Until today, nothing has been done to address this situation,” says Mokae.