THE City has confirmed reports that it will be purchasing four armoured vehicles from Denel for the Metro Police. In a statement on Monday, municipal spokesperson Tozi Mthethwa, said the deal with Denel will cost the City R19.9 million.
“These vehicles will assist Metro Police to carry out their duties while ensuring effective policing for crowd management deployment. This will also ensure the safety of police members in riot situations when rocks or petrol bombs are thrown,” she said.
Mthethwa added the vehicle will also be used to prevent land invasion situations.
Last week uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer expressed his shock by the City’s move to purchase the armoured vehicles, instead of hiring more staff in its Metro Police Department.
“We are extremely concerned about the supposed reasons for a fleet of armoured vehicles better suited for war time operations and synonymous with the suppression of pro-democracy supporters during the former regime,” he said.
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