Petition highlights lack of SAPS resources

“Our police stations are severely under-resourced and the lack of strong, stable leadership is putting the community at risk.”

Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (MPL) Michael Waters, with ward councillors and community representatives from Crystal Park, Cloverdene and Chief Albert Luthuli Park, will submit a petition to the speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, at the end of May, urging the portfolio committee on police to reassess the growing need for sustainable resources at station level.

Gathering outside the Crystal Park Police Station, on May 5, Waters told the Benoni City Times according to the United Nations police-to-population ratio of one officer for every 220 citizens, Benoni, Actonville, Crystal Park and Putfontein police stations are under-resourced by 71%.

“To put it into perspective, there are 345 513 residents who rely on services from these four police stations, which consist of 459 police officers and 47 support staff,” he said.

“That means that there is one police officer for every 753 residents.”

He said in 2023, former Police Minister, Bheki Cele, noted that South Africa’s ratio was approximately one officer for every 383 citizens.

“This could not be further from the truth regarding Benoni. If the ratio of 220 residents for one police officer was a reality, these local police stations would have 1 571 pairs of boots on the ground,” said Waters.

Ward 24 Clr Nicola da Silva said regular meetings with local CPF members painted a bleak picture of how shortages of essential resources hamper officers’ ability to serve and protect.

“Officers do not have access to bulletproof vests and fleet breakdowns are seeing the men and women in blue having to use their vehicles to respond to calls,” said da Silva.

Responding to submitted questions, the Gauteng Department of Community Safety confirmed the operational status of vehicles allocated to the police stations mentioned in the petition:
• Crystal Park SAPS has an allocated fleet of 22 vehicles of which 11 are in working order

• At Benoni SAPS of the 66 fleet vehicles, 48 are mechanically in working order.

• Actonville SAPS has a fleet of 37 vehicles, of which 31 are operational.

• Putfontein SAPS’ allocated fleet consists of 20 vehicles, where 13 are currently being utilised.

“That means, of the 145 SAPS vehicles available to patrol and respond to complaints, across the four police stations’ footprint, only 103 are currently available,” said Waters.

“The 42, which are either accident damaged or suffered mechanical breakdown, could make a huge impact on the fight against crime.”

Responding to questions from the City Times regarding the status of the non-operational vehicles, Brigadier Brenda Muridili, SAPS corporate communication and liaison, explained the SAPS will respond to the portfolio committee once the petition has been filed and they receive responses to the questions.

“We will provide comment on the matter after it is handled at the committee level,” said Muridili.

“We do not want to respond to matters yet to be discussed.”

Statistics
To further illustrate the impact the resourcing debacle has, the 2024 crime statistics placed the Crystal Park Police Station third on the list of the top 10 Ekurhuleni police stations with the highest murder rate per 100 000 residents.

The average for Ekurhuleni was 40 murders per 100 000.

“Crystal Park recorded 86 murders with Putfontain in fifth with 65,” said Waters.

“Actonville featured 10th on the list with 56 murders while Benoni SAPS ranked 15th with 41 murders.

“These statistics are above the region’s average and need urgent intervention.”

Da Silva clarified murders relating to territorial battles between rival illegal mining factions, which are rife in Chief Albert Luthuli Park and the N12 informal settlement, largely contributed to Crystal Park Police Station’s high murder rate.

“Bodies are often dumped next to the N12 highway, which forms part of both Crystal Park and Putfontein SAPS patrol areas. Although this may not have been the murder scene, these discoveries affect these police stations’ crime statistics,” she said.

“Other contributing factors include GBV, femicide and crimes committed because of substance abuse.”

Waters in conclusion said petitions submitted to parliament have proven successful, and he hoped this one will be urgently and decisively dealt with.

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