DA inspects Midrand police station to identify problems hindering police service
Despite all the challenges faced by this station, the police officers remain dedicated to their work.
Democratic Alliance (DA) members visited several surrounding police stations, including the Midrand station on July 20 during the DA’s Gauteng Police Watch tour.
The DA conducts these oversight inspections to engage with the police management of the particular stations to ascertain the challenges they are faced with in terms of preventing and fighting crime.
In attendance at the Midrand station oversight was DA Gauteng Member of Community Safety Committee Nico de Jager, DA Gauteng spokesperson for Community Safety Ruhan Robison, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Community Safety in Gauteng Crezane Bosch, Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe, and Midrand police officers led by station commander Brigadier Molefe David Tsotsotso.
Although crime, especially hijacking, remained at the epicentre of Midrand residents’ woes, Tsotsotso said the Midrand station was fully functional with the support of security companies and patrollers.
“The furthest area we service is about 51km [away] which is Riversands, and to reach such far-off areas it takes a response time of about 10 to 15 minutes. However, with the help of patrollers from the Sector 5 Forum here in Midrand, and security companies that we have a strong relationship with, they manage to respond much quicker than us,” said Tsotsotso.
Although the DA agreed that the Midrand police force was too small to meet the needs of the community, De Jager said it was important for the station to improve resources and manpower because ‘when an individual is attacked in their home, a minute can feel like a week’.
A severe lack of police vehicles, parking for the public at the station, human resources, and lack of proper regular maintenance of infrastructure were identified as what’s hindering the Midrand police to deliver proper services.
Deppe said despite monthly Community Police Forum and Sector Crime Forum meetings, there had been a breakdown in communication between councillors and the forums.
“The ward councillors are not invited to forum meetings, and they are then blamed for not engaging with the community, especially in regards to land invasion issues. Councillors should be invited to such meetings so that they can also help combat these criminal activities,” said Deppe.
In conclusion, the DA strongly believed that the adoption of its Community Safety Bill, which includes improving police intelligence, would improve the relationship between police and the communities they served.
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