Free State SAPS reduced to foot patrols: 46% of vehicles unavailable – DA

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State is currently unable to use 46% of the vehicles available to it. Only 26 of the 42 vehicles available to the flying squad in the province is operational. This is according to a reply to a Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary question by the Minister of Police Bheki Cele dated 31 July 2020. The reply can be found here. 

DA NCOP Member for Security and Justice George Michalakis said the DA will write to Cele to ask how he plans to address the issue. 

“We will also request an urgent debate in the National Council of Provinces on the matter,” said Michalakis.

FREE STATE SAPS HAVE REDUCED ACCESS TO VEHICLES 

Of the top 10 stations with the highest volume of crime, only Kagisanong and Thabong stations have a capacity of more than 50% of its vehicles at its disposal, with Harrismith SAPS only having the use of 13% of their vehicles.

According to Michalakis, the reason for this is high kilometres and low budgets. 

“The SAPS has grossly neglected to equip police officers with the necessary tools to fight crimes,” said Michalakis. 

Whilst Brandfort SAPS only has the use of one of the 15 vehicles available to it, larger stations such as Bethlehem (24 of 51), Kroonstad (9 of 41), Bloemspruit (13 of 46) and Zamdela (10 of 37) all have to make do with fewer than half of their available vehicles.

Welkom, Bethlehem, Bloemspruit and Zamdela are all among the top 10 stations with the highest volume of crime in the province. The top 10 police stations in the Free State with the highest crime statistics in 2019, with the number of vehicles currently in use, are as follows:

1. Parkweg (13/15 – flying squad only);
2. Welkom 29/59;
3. Thabong 32/53;
4. Bethlehem24/51;
5. Phuthaditjhaba 25/31;
6. Bloemspruit 13/46;
7. Zamdela 10/37;
8. Kagisanong 26/35;
9. Odendaalsrus 14/29; and
10. Harrismith 3/23.

‘POLICE HAVE NO MEANS OF TRANSPORT’ – MICHALAKIS 

According to the details provided to the question regarding odometer readings of all available SAPS vehicles in the province, nearly 60% of vehicles show an odometer reading of more than 200 000 km and some vehicles have been driven past the 1 million km mark and is still in use. One can view Cele’s written reply here.

“It is unfathomable that the SAPS can find funds to protect politicians and fund the salaries of 18 so-called Generals, each with their own division and staff, 15 divisional commissioners and 9 regional commissioners in the top management alone (this excludes SAPS Head Office and the offices of the provincial commissioners) but cannot find funds to protect citizens,” said Michalakis.

“Much too often citizens call on the police for help, only to find that there is no response. It is likely that this is due to the fact that the police has no means of transport. In a country as violent as ours, the consequences will on many occasions undoubtedly be loss of life. This is unacceptable,” added Michalakis.