Alarm raised over resource shortages at Kempton Park SAPS

The DA has expressed concern over the state of policing in Kempton Park following an oversight visit to the local SAPS station.

Its members described what confronted them as “deeply troubling” resource shortages.

According to Michael Waters, MPL and DA Kempton Park constituency head, the police station is severely under-resourced, resulting in poor police visibility and delayed response times.

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“Currently, there are six sectors in the Kempton Park precinct, and each should ideally have two vehicles patrolling 24 hours a day.

“Due to a shortage, the reality is that there are only three sector vehicles available, each responsible for two sectors,” Waters said.

He added that officers also use these vehicles to respond to complaints, with between 30 and 40 incidents reported in a typical 12-hour shift.

“It’s no wonder residents complain that they never see police vehicles patrolling their streets. With crimes like cable theft on the rise, there is simply no visible deterrent,” he said.

The DA also revealed that the detective branch is stretched beyond capacity.

“The branch currently has 54 detectives and 12 crime officers, who share 26 vehicles and collectively manage 6 744 cases, an average of 102 cases per detective.”

Ward 91 Clr Desmond McKenzie said the lack of resources put residents and officers under immense strain.

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“As local councillors, we are deeply concerned about the severe shortage of resources at the Kempton Park Police Station.

“With too few vehicles and overworked detectives, visible policing in our communities has been severely compromised,” McKenzie said.

The DA said effective policing depends on understanding local circumstances and ensuring fair distribution of resources, something it believes has not happened at the Kempton Park station.

The party has pledged to raise the matter in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to ensure the station and the community receive the resources they deserve.

The Kempton Express contacted Ekurhuleni SAPS district spokesperson Captain Neldah Sekgobela for comment.
She was given until midday on October 6 to respond, but had not provided comments by the time of going to print.