Concerns raised about the 10111 Command Centre based in Maitland

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape has raised concerns about the 10111 Command Centre based in Maitland. The centre services 72 police stations in the Cape metro as well as areas in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.

SCREENSHOT

Statistics from the South African Police Service (SAPS) reveal that during December 2024, a total number of 105 614 telephone calls were received. 87 321 calls were handled, whilst 18 293 were abandoned. 40 543 complaints from other stations were transmitted.

During the first week of January 2025 (30 December to 6 January), the centre received 24 917 calls, of which 20 741 were answered and 4 176 abandoned. 6 244 complaints were registered by 10111 staff and 2 836 were registered at stations.

In comparison, during the second and third weeks of January, 16 133 and 13 576 calls were answered respectively whilst 4 505 and 4 252 complaints were registered during the course of each week by the 10111 team.

The DA in the Western Cape has written to Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt. Gen. Thembisile Patekile, to urgently address the operational shortcomings of the Maitland 10111 Command Centre.

‘’Whilst the Command Centre have recently been allocated 13 extra personnel members, this has not materialised, leaving the Centre with only eight call takers at most per 12-hour shift. Personnel at the Centre travel from across the Peninsula - often in the very early hours of the morning, to report for duty and are not, as is the case at other 10111 Commend Centres, assisted with transport. Some travel from dangerous areas such as Mfuleni, where a police officer was recently robbed and shot dead. Many members have several years of service and have had no prospects of promotion, are not offered training or development opportunities are seldom recognised for their contribution to the fight against crime,’’ said Nicholas Gotsell, DA Member of the Select Committee for Security and Justice.

‘’For South Africans, the 10111 number is synonymous with the Police. It is the citizens’ natural response to report emergency incidents or danger and it is the heartbeat of the SAPS,’’ he added.

The DA requested Patekile to ensure that the 10111 Command Centre receives the extra personnel it has previously been allocated to help alleviate the pressure on a short-staffed unit, as well for the Centre to be resourced with proper chairs and that the issue of transport for personnel be addressed along with their general wellness.

 

Done by: Mitchum George