SAPS need to increase manpower
According to local station commander Col Hans Putter, the SAPS have a staff shortage of 54 members. Putter said this last Wednesday during a community policing forum meeting held at the local SAPS cluster.
LYDENBURG – According to local station commander Col Hans Putter, the SAPS have a staff shortage of 54 members. Putter said this last Wednesday during a community policing forum meeting held at the local SAPS cluster.
He requested that the positions be filled to ensure that the crime rate decreases. He says to his surprise he was told that they must wait until 2015.
The aim of the meeting was to find a way forward on how to decrease the crime rate in the community.
Putter said his main concern was corruption and lack of service delivery. “Crime is high because of corruption and I am tired of hearing about it.”
He said he was willing to work with any person who wanted to fight it. “I don’t want members who don’t want to perform their duties and my team has to pull up their socks so that we can succeed. If service is delivered to the public, we will not experience protest.”
Communications officer, Capt Mabokalake Mashabela, said they were aware of the shortage, however, the police station did not have the authority to hire new members.
“We sent a request to the provincial offices for reservists, but we have to wait for them to take the necessary steps.”
A community member, Mr Solly Masombuka said he thought it best that the provincial office recruit police tactical response team “Amaberethe” until a permanent solution was provided.
“We know the budget is a problem, we need more vehicles as well,” he added.
“If they add more people it will be easier to win the battle against crime.”
The community members came in numbers to find solutions to address crime in the area.
