Western Cape MEC concerned over the lack of police resources in the province
The Western Cape’s Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC, Reagen Allen, has raised concerns over the lack of police resources in the province.
The MEC on Monday and Tuesday conducted
safety oversight visits and had engagements in the Breedevalley, Witzenberg and
Langeberg Municipal areas
“The continued chronic under
resourcing at the SAPS stations remains a deep concern, and the picture at the
stations we visited is quite grim. At one station, there was only one officer
in the charge office. At another, there are a number of officers facing various
charges, including criminal charges and three are currently out on bail,’’ said
Western Cape’s Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC, Reagen Allen.
Allen said there’s a need in
the province to address ill-discipline amongst SAPS members, to move away from
deploying residents at local stations and filling the priority posts.
The MEC said he will engage
with the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile
about how police stations located outside the borders of the Cape Metro are
also prioritised for resource allocations.
‘’Our dedicated men and women
in blue are working under strenuous conditions, and I will continue making it
my business to fight, lobby and advocate for them. At the same time, I’d also
like to state that where we have SAPS officers overstepping boundaries and
operating like criminals, you do not deserve the uniform and should instead join
those in the orange uniforms,” concluded Allen
PICTURE - Marcellino Martin: Bush Radio's Mitchum George with MEC AllenDone By: Mitchum George
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