EMPD precinct will be relocated
The Benoni EMPD Precinct, which is based in the Benoni CBD, will be relocating to Northmead by 2019, in the hope of providing 24-hour services to the community.
“The precinct will move at the end of June 2019,” said EMPD spokesperson Lieut-Col Wilfred Kgasago.
“It is a long process, which includes site identification, consultants, drawing plans, approvals, building process and so on.”
The EMPD precinct is currently situated on the corner of Victoria Avenue and Tom Jones Street.
There are only two EMPD precincts in Benoni – one in the Benoni CBD and another in Bromberg.
“The reason for the move is a strategic management decision, aimed at enhancing the services rendered by the precinct,” Kgasago said.
“The precinct station aims to provide a fully-functional service to the community of Ekurhuleni ,with enforcement of municipal by-laws, crime prevention, traffic policing and council security, as the key performance areas.”
Currently the precinct offers basic services, including:
•Traffic fine enquiries
•Complaints reporting
•Payment of fines
•Funeral escort applications
•Applications for marches or demonstrations
•Accident reports
•General law enforcement, including by-laws
Operating hours on weekdays are from 8am to 3.30pm and the office is closed on weekends.
In addition to the current services offered, the new precinct will offer a customer care service centre, a writing room where administration takes place, cashiers, a media unit, social crime prevention unit, lecture room, boardroom, armoury, gymnasium for the staff, holding cells (male and female), 10 offices and the hope of providing 24-hour services to the community.
Although the relocation of the precinct may raise the question of the licensing department (also in Benoni CBD) relocating, too, Kgasago said the licensing department will not be moved to Northmead, because it is an independent department from the EMPD and belongs to the department of transport.
The long-term goal is to move the precinct to Northmead, however, a short-term goal is to set up a satellite service in Kingsway, before the end of the year.
“The satellite is established as a way of taking the services to the community,” Kgasago said.
“It is going to serve the communities of Kingsway, Lindelani, Eastvale and Dersley, as they do not have easy access to policing services.”
Councillor for Ward 73, Sinethemba Matiwane, said he is excited about the satellite unit being set up in Kingsway.
“This is a bonus for Kingsway, because it improves service delivery,” he added.
“The response time will be faster and it will improve crime deterrence.”
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