The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga conducted an oversight inspection of the Embalenhle Police Station today, following complaints that the police response time is very slow.
Community members complained that in crime-related emergencies, Embalenhle residents are left to the mercy of criminals for hours due to the delayed response of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to tend to complaints.
At the oversight inspection, the DA engaged with the management of the station to discuss the challenges they are facing that are impacting negatively on the functionality of the station.
SAPS delayed reaction to crime is not surprising given the dire lack of operational vehicles available to the Embalenhle police station. They currently have 20 vehicles, but only 9 are operational, the others need repairs. Moreover, the cells and offices in the station are also not repaired or maintained. They are dilapidated with water leaks.
The DA identified numerous challenges affecting police service delivery at the Embalenhle Police Station. We will be submitting a range of questions in this regard to the MEC of Community Safety, Jacky Macie, to probe why there is a delay in repairing of the broken vehicles and a lack of support from the provincial and national police departments.
It also came to the DA’s attention that Detectives in that Police Station are overworked, with an average of 150 cases for each detective.
Only the DA has an effective and practical plan to rescue South Africa from crime and lawlessness. We would like to request the government adopt our plan, which includes the following:
• Make policing a provincial and local government responsibility.
• Fight corruption within the police.
• Retrain police officers to protect with pride.
• Create an effective drug fighting force.
• Hire people with passion for policing.
• Strive for effective arrests, prosecutions, and convictions.
The DA will continue the fight to ensure that all South Africans are afforded equal protection and safety by government and SAPS as enshrined within our Constitution.