The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has expressed shock and dismay over the number of Police vehicles that are not in operation parked in garages for maintenance and repairs.

Members of the Committee conducted oversight visits in four Police stations in Tshwane and Ekurhuleni to assess progress made in reducing crime in the communities they serve.

The stations visited were the Akasia, Atteridgeville, Etwatwa and Boksburg Police station.

The Committee established that in the Akasia and Atteridgeville Police stations almost half of the vehicles were not operational due to mechanical repairs and maintenance.

In the Akasia Police station 24 vehicles were not operational, Atteridgeville 22, Etwatwa 8 and Boksburg 7.  These vehicles often stay in garages for over a month and not being utilised by Police officers to attend to crime scenes, conduct patrols and ensure Police visibility.

The Committee views this as shocking and appalling as it presents serious obstacles to effective policing.  Police vehicles are meant to services communities to ensure that Police officers are at the right place at the right time in the process of achieving their law enforcement responsibilities.

The Committee will raise this critical matter with both the MEC for Community Safety Ms Faith Mazibuko and the Provincial Police Commissioner Lt Gen Elias Mawela in an effort to establish sustainable plans to best address this situation and ensure that Police resources are optimally utilised to fight crime in the Province.

As part of exercising its oversight role, the Committee will continue to visit Police Stations in the province in an effort to ensure that Police officers are well resourced and are provided with adequate support to better fulfil their mandate of keeping the citizens safe at all times. 

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ISSUED BY GPL’S MEDIA SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY SAFETY, HONOURABLE MAPITI MATSENA

For interview requests with the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee please contact: Mr Thebe Khumalo on

011 498 5948 / 072 266 1021 email: TKhumalo@gpl.gov.za

GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE