A recent inspection of the Alexandra Police Station by Rise Mzansi National Assembly caucus whip Makashule Gana has revealed daunting staff and resource challenges faced by law enforcement officers in the fight against crime.
Some of the challenges discovered were the shortage of detectives, captains and vehicles. The station is said to be short of seven detectives and has five vacancies for the level of captain.
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With high incidences of car hijackings, assaults, drugs, sexual violence, and gang-related crimes, Gana said the visit aimed to underscore the dire need for government interventions and increased police resources to stabilise the crime situation.
During his inspection, Gana was briefed by Community Police Forum (CPF) chairperson Sarah Matomeamohale, who echoed the community’s growing concerns.
“Crime that is often reported and attended to by the Alexandra Police Station includes murder, assaults, hijackings, and rape.
“On the rape cases, we have a huge problem of the withdrawal of cases. GBV is growing in the township because Alex people report rape cases and once the families get the case numbers they use them to extort money from the perpetrators and later come to withdraw the cases,” Matomeamohale said.
She also outlined the issue of some people who use the CPF logo to extort money from people in the form of protection fees. “The CPF does not and will not go around the township collecting protection money from the community it serves. So, I plead with Alex people to report whoever comes to them with the CPF logo and ask for a protection fee.
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“We desperately need government support in combating crime here in the township. Our station is short on staff, and vehicles. We urgently require assistance from the government for this.”
Matomeamohale called on the City of Johannesburg department that allocated trading spaces at Pan Square to come forward and sort out the mess that has led to conflicts between locals and foreign nationals.
Gana highlighted the significant challenges presented by insufficient boots on the ground and a lack of resources. “The community deserves safety and security, but the Alexandra Police Station cannot provide that under the current circumstances.
“Our goal is to ensure that police resources are directed towards effectively fighting crime by apprehending and prosecuting criminals, not helping individuals extort money from victims,” Gana said.
Throughout the visit, the conversation turned to the issue of gang activity in Alexandra, with reports of gangs marking territories and extorting money from residents.
“This is a serious concern that needs immediate attention. The police must work hand-in-hand with the community to identify and dismantle these extortion rings. The safety of citizens must come first,” Gana said.
Gana acknowledged the challenge of the withdrawal of rape cases and called for increased funding and resources for the police to ensure that investigations proceed efficiently.
“We cannot allow law enforcement resources to be misused or wasted; they must be focused on delivering justice for victims,” he said, adding that he would address the Alex SAPS issues with the provincial commissioner.
He also plans to raise the matter in Parliament next week, stressing that, “It is vital we redirect financial resources from protecting politicians to safeguarding our communities.”
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