DA submits Promotion of Access to Information Act application to SAPS

Imogen Vollenhoven
22 August 2013

The Democratic Alliance has today submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act application to the South African Police Service. 

The DA is requesting police to population ratio for every police station in the country with a provincial breakdown. 

DA MP of Police Dianne Kohler Barnard said Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa should be able to provide this information when asked unless he is trying to hide the failures of his department.

Barnard explained that it is perhaps because the information would be both revealing and embarrassing.

“Because it was recently revealed in the Western Cape provincial government by the office of the Western Cape provincial commissioner Arno Lamoer that the police to population ratio in high crime areas in the WC is far lower than the national average,” added Barnard.

She furthermore said that in areas with high murder rates the ratio is over 10 000 people to a single police officer.

Barnard said that it is essential that high crime areas have enough police officers to be on the streets and tackle crime.