DRIEKOP – Local residents are up in arms over the erratic hours of the satellite police station. Residents allege that the station operated irregular hours since its inception a decade ago.They accuse the police of failing to provide them with basic services, which are guaranteed by the Constitution. A local resident said, “The satellite station is under the supervision of the station commissioner at Mecklenburg SAPS in Moroke. It seems they just do as they wish as people have to call or wait long hours to be helped by the police.””We reported this issue before to the station commander, but the situation is getting worse and the community had enough with what was happening. It was erected on a sports ground made for the children of the village, and we need it back,” he added. On Wednesday morning the premises’ gates were locked.According to the residents, the station’s inability to operate amounts to corruption and incompetence.”We travel long distances to either Mecklenburg SAPS or Burgersfort SAPS just for our IDs to be certified,” one said. Mecklenburg police spokesman, Const Kgalake Mampuru, said that they work hard to ensure they offer better services to the Driekop residents.”There are police officers who report to the Driekop station every day. Sometimes they encounter problems as we have shortages of vehicles or personnel and end up being late.”When the officers are around, they offer all services at the satellite,” Mampuru said. Col Moatshe Ngoape, spokesman of the Limpopo SAPS, said they would investigate the allegations raised and would ensure the situation is remedied.
