Douglasdale Police Station performing well, but room for improvement
While the DA Gauteng spokesperson for community safety Michael Sun feels the Douglasdale Police Station is effective, to a point, the party has launched a scathing attack on the current state of police service delivery in Gauteng, citing inadequate facilities, understaffed teams, and poor training.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is calling on Premier Panyaza Lesufi to prioritise resource allocation for police stations and community involvement in combating crime.
Despite recent complaints from community members about the Douglasdale Police Station, Michael Sun, the DA Gauteng spokesperson for community safety, believes that the station is performing well, based on his observation.
This is after the DA’s oversight inspection, which also revealed room for improvement. “The station is space-restraint. At times, members of the public have to stand outside of the charge office waiting for service. I also noted that during normal days and evenings, more officers can be assigned to assist at the front desk, therefore reducing waiting time,” said Sun.
Also read: Angry resident accuses Douglasdale Police Station Commander of neglect
When asked what he meant by: ‘room for improvement’, Sun said they refer to addressing specific operational inefficiencies, including the need for more personnel in certain shifts, improved community engagement, and better resources for crime-fighting technology.
Lesufi’s government has been criticized by Sun for poor service delivery at police stations. Sun believes that Gauteng’s police stations face significant challenges in terms of resource allocation, training, and overall support. “We have witnessed firsthand the struggles of many stations, including inadequate facilities and understaffed teams, down to broken down toilet facilities. Our approach to improving service delivery would involve increasing funding for police stations, ensuring that police personnel are adequately trained, and addressing infrastructure challenges that affect their ability to operate effectively.”
Also read: Douglasdale and Diepkloof police arrest 364 suspects during Operation Shanela
Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said, on behalf of the station, that they strive to ensure that the resources they receive are optimally used in order to delivery an effective and efficient service to the community. “As technology evolves into new dimensions it is also important for law enforcement to keep up to date, as crime and criminals are becoming more innovative. The police always strive for community policing, hence there is a Community Policing Forum (CPF) structure which aims to close the gap between the police and the community they are policing.”
Sizwe Pamla, from Lesufi’s office, did not specifically respond to the questions sent to him pertaining the allegations, besides saying: “The Gauteng government has a robust and effective community patroller system, led by the SAPS, which collaborates with provincial law enforcement authorities.
Read more: Over 503 suspects arrested during Operation Shanela in Joburg district
“Each of the five Gauteng corridors has 200 patrollers who make up most of Operation Okae Molao, which is designed to combat crime in the province. Some patrollers are stationed at schools and clinics to provide 24-hour monitoring and prevent crime from occurring in these areas.”
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We’d love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!
