TZANEEN – While the Tzaneen Police Station operates with a fleet of 29 vehicles to manage its caseload, police in Modjadjiskloof must rely on a single vehicle to cover an area that stretches as far as Ga-Sekgopo.

Police decline to release exact fleet numbers

The Herald’s inquiries into the number of vehicles allocated to local police stations were met with resistance. Limpopo provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said that stations in Tzaneen and the surrounding areas have enough vehicles assigned to them, but declined to provide specific numbers.

“We cannot specify how many vehicles each station has, but the police have enough to work with,” he said.

Local authorities, however, confirmed the limited vehicles available for patrols, investigations, and community operations.

Residents in outlying rural areas continue to raise concerns about poor police response times, which they attributed to long distances and deteriorating roads.

Community meeting reveals shared patrol vehicle

During a community meeting held in June at the Hervormde Kerk in Modjadjiskloof, residents were informed that the Modjadjiskloof and Sekgopo stations share only one patrol vehicle between them.

The meeting was attended by members of the Community Policing Forum (CPF), Neighbourhood Watch groups, and local officers. CPF chairperson Riaan Swart said the shortage of vehicles severely hampers policing efforts.

“When we apprehend a suspect, we often have to wait a long time for the police to arrive. During that time, we are unarmed and vulnerable,” he explained.

When contacted on November 18, a sub-CPF Modjadjiskloof member said they have not received any updates from the police since the June meeting.

Locals say streetlights, tall grass worsen safety

“The worst thing now is that with the grass so high, crime has increased. They hold meetings with the CPF, but the sub-CPF is never included, so we don’t know what is really happening.”

“Three weeks ago, someone broke into my home and stole items worth thousands of rands. Criminals know the area well; they know the hiding places and can see us from far away, but we can’t see anything because our streetlights don’t work. We are really struggling, and nothing is being done,” the member added.

Other residents also shared experiences of slow response times and difficulty accessing police assistance at night.

In June, Constable Elliot Mabulane, the former spokesperson for Modjadjiskloof SAPS, assured the community that their concerns had been noted and that a follow-up meeting would be held.

However, according to Swart, there has been no feedback, and the situation in Modjadjiskloof has worsened.