The Democratic Alliance (DA) is demanding that the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Northern Cape urgently responds to the under resourcing and lack of maintenance of police stations, after oversight inspections revealed unacceptable conditions under which officers are expected to fight crime.
Serious deficiencies were exposed at the Rosedale and Kuruman SAPS stations, that severely undermine the ability of officers to carry out effective law enforcement.
Alarmingly, both these stations are among the top five in the province for contact crimes, further underscoring the link between poorly resourced SAPS stations and high crime levels.
The Rosedale station, ranking high for attempted murder and assault, is crumbling under the weight of impounded evidence collected at seize operations, due to a lack of storage facilities. Despite the extreme heat of Upington, and cramped office space, the entire SAPS facility also only has three operational air conditioners.
Officials at both stations further lamented the ongoing dependence on worn-out vehicles and the critical shortage of personnel which creates an inconducive environment for crime fighting. Officials expressed concern for the significant increase of gangsterism in the Kuruman area. The DA noted the growing youthfulness of perpetrators. This was reinforced by the holding of a 15-year-old suspect for rape.
The DA will again raise our findings with the Provincial Police Commissioner, Koliswa Otola, requesting that SAPS stations across the province receive overdue maintenance and resource allocations.
SAPS must take full ownership of its police stations and the working conditions of its officers, ensuring that facilities are fully functional and fit for purpose. This is necessary to empower officers, strengthen law enforcement, and create safer communities for all.