Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
A written parliamentary reply to the Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has revealed the full extent of the dire situation regarding turnaround times for South African Police Service (SAPS) vehicle repairs and their current state in the province.
DA KZN Community Safety and Liaison MEC, Peggy Nkonyeni, states, “This information illustrates the hopeless inadequacies that exist within SAPS. It also begs the question of many vehicles are on the ground at any given time, keeping our communities safe. If a vehicle is sitting for 121 days waiting for minor brake repairs, this is four months that it is not able to attend serious crimes.”
Baring this in mind, the Newcastillian – Online News previously spoke to the Newcastle SAPS regarding how many vehicles it had available to serve Newcastillians.
This followed a recent Community Policing Forum (CPF) meeting, which speculated that there were only 12 vehicles available.
To read the full article, click here.
Currently, there are 4 227 SAPS vehicles allocated to 184 stations throughout the 11 districts in KZN. But of these 4227 vehicles assigned to protect communities, it is deeply concerning to learn that 1 716 of them are currently in for repairs.
Among these stations, Newcastle, KwaDukuza and Pietermaritzburg tend to stand out.
Newcastle holds 41 vehicles, of which 24 are currently in for repairs. One of these vehicles belongs to the K9 Unit and has been in the shop for the past 92 days, awaiting an engine oil top-up.
Kwadukuza has 36 vehicles at its disposal. Fifteen are in for repairs. One vehicle has been standing for 186 days, awaiting a battery replacement.
Pietermaritzburg SAPS possess 46 vehicles. Yet, 32 are in for repair work. One of which is a vehicle that has been standing for 193 days for windscreen repairs.
Click here to view the complete list of SAPS stations and the status of their vehicles.
“If these are the kind of turnaround times being experienced, then it is little wonder that lawlessness is so rife in our province. There is a direct correlation between these vehicles being unavailable and KZN’s rising crime statistics.”
Moreover, the DA states that the absolute travesty is that lives are constantly lost in KZN due to a lack of police visibility. This is compounded by a scarcity of the vital resource of vehicles.
“The burning questions are – how are KZN’s people supposed to feel safe under the circumstances? And how are members on the ground supposed to do their jobs properly?,” the political party asks.
The DA says these findings are in stark contrast to the provincial government’s promises that it is dedicated to fixing and redirecting SAPS resources.
“It is clear that urgent interventions are needed for the sake of our communities who are in dire need of a safe and crime-free province. KZN’s Community Safety and Liaison Department owes this much at least, particularly to the most vulnerable sectors of our society – our women, children and elderly.”
What are your thoughts on the matter? Share your views in the comment section below.
RELATED NEWS
One Response
Wow that is shocking I am speechless