Norkem Park SAPS’ visible policing falls short: DA
The station commander, however, begs to differ.
Norkem Park SAPS’ visible policing is at a 68 per cent shortfall but their firearm competency lies at nearly 100 per cent. This, according to the DA.The party’s member of parliament Mike Waters, together with ward councillors Desmond Mckenzie (ward 91), Tracey Lourenco (ward 104) and Gideon van Zyl (ward 15), visited the station on June 22 for an oversight.
They spoke to station commander Col Tobias Strauss, who confirmed that the station has 124 functional officers. Five of them have disabilities and do office work.
The station’s day is divided into four shifts. Up to 12 police members, not including those manning the charge office, are on duty per shift and cover the four Norkem sectors.Ideally, Strauss told Express, there would be 14 to 16 members per shift.
“This would help to cater for absences if members are on courses, on sick leave or annual leave.”
According to Waters, the standard is two vehicles operating in each sector at all times.
“If they were to implement this standard, a further 16 police officers would be needed, meaning they are short of 32 police officers for visible policing.”
This, Waters told Express, has a direct impact on the quality of service the station can offer.
Strauss, however, does not agree.
“With the current 12 members per shift, it is possible to post one vehicle per sector if no one is absent. Saying the shortfall is 68 per cent is therefore incorrect.”
It was also found that available vehicles are often in mechanical workshops for months and even years.
“Two detective vehicles have been out of commission for 761 days,” Waters added. “That is two weeks short of two years.”
One positive aspect is that 92 per cent of the Norkem SAPS officers are competent to carry firearms. This percentage might as well be 100, as the remaining officers, due to their line of work, do not carry guns.
