THE visible policing unit at Sebenza Police Station is severely understaffed.
Michael Waters MP and DA deputy chief whip in the National Assembly and Lethabong constituency head, said 64 police officers are needed to man the required patrols, while only 26 are available.
“This translates to a 60 per cent under-staffing,” Waters said in a statement.
“Visible policing plays a crucial role in deterring crime that is gripping our communities. Sebenza has four sectors within its precinct and should have two vehicles operating in each sector at all times. The Minister of Police concedes in his reply that only 26 members conduct patrols in the four sectors.
“The patrol is made up of two shifts with six members and two shifts with seven members. Given that there needs to be two police officers in a visible policing vehicle at all times, having a seventh member is of no use as that officer cannot go out on patrol alone for safety reasons,” Waters said.
Having six police officers on patrol during a shift means one sector is being totally neglected, leaving residents vulnerable to crime.
“The police shortages at Sebenza Police Station comes in the face of a dramatic increase in the population of the precinct, which is made up of Greenstone and Modderfontein. The station has still not been upgraded or seen a ‘rank improvement’, which would result in it getting more police officers,” added Waters.
