Boksburg North police under-resourced – DA
The Boksburg North SAPS precinct has a shortage of 36 visible police officers (38 per cent).
This is according to MP Mike Waters, the DA deputy chief whip in the national assembly and Lethabong constituency head.
He said there are only 15 visible policing officers for each of the four shifts. This amounts to just 60 visible policing officers in total.
“There should be a total of 96 officers in the unit, with 24 officers being on duty per shift,” said Waters.
“In addition, the visible police unit is supposed to have two vehicles for each of the four sectors within the precinct, 24 hours a day.
“However, currently there are only three visible policing vehicles that are patrolling our community, within this policing precinct. In order to meet the need, there should be no less than eight vehicles.
“In light of these shortages, it is no wonder that crime is increasing.”
As far as the overall situation at the Boksburg North police station is concerned, the entire station has only 23 vehicles.
“These vehicles must serve the operations of all divisions, including detectives, visible policing and crime prevention. However, out of the 23 vehicles only 10 are currently operational as 13, or 57 per cent, are at the mechanical workshop,” said Waters.
“This is a serious problem as the chronic lack of police vehicles and of boots on the ground renders policing in Boksburg North ineffectual.
“The station is in a state of decay; it is under resourced and constrained in protecting residents.
“The government has an obligation to ensure that all police stations are adequately resourced. Their failure to do so comes at the expense of people’s lives.”
According to the Boksburg North SAPS communications officer, Capt Juanita Coetzer, the station is doing what they can with their amount of members and vehicles.
“We can only apply for vehicles and make do with what we have. Boksburg North SAPS has reduced crime very well with what we have.”
During a recent meeting at the provincial commissioner’s office, Waters was informed that the national SAPS office allocates only 70 per cent of the required police capacity to the Gauteng Province.
“This has a ripple effect and means that police stations will not be adequately staffed,” said Waters.
“The minister of police and the national police commissioner must take full responsibility for the high crime rate and the chronic lack of police officers.”
