eMbalenhle community questions why the police locked their gates at night

Community members claim that the gates to eMbalenhle Police Station close after 20:00 each night.

Some community members said running to the police station to report criminal activities in their neighbourhoods at night, will only be a waste of time because the gates are closed.

Vusi Khumalo will never forget what he saw when passing by the police station a few weeks ago.

Khumalo said a man was robbed in the veld next to the police station.

“What I saw, was frightening. The man was running away from the robbers to seek help at the police station, but only to find that the gate was locked.

“The criminals dragged him from the police gate to the nearby veld next to the Risko Fakude Stadium where they took all his belongings.”

Khumalo said he has experienced what the whole eMbalenhle community is talking about.

“We have a police station, but we are not safe,” said Khumalo.

Other residents who were at the police station to report a crime, claim they were chased out of the building because it was time to close up gates.

“I went to the police station a week ago to report a crime.

“It was already dark outside and a police officer told me to leave because he wanted to close the gate,” said Zanele Ngwenyama.

“Because he requested, I left the station without being helped. I checked the time on my cellphone. It was 20:30.

“Why is the community not being informed that if we fail to report crime during the day, we must wait until the next day because the police station closes?” asked Ngwenyama.

It is not the first time the community accused the eMbalenhle Police of closing the police station during the night.

Residents of Ext 20 recently marched to the police station, demanding answers as to why the police station closes at night.

Const Busi Mthethwa, eMbalenhle Police spokesperson, disputed the community’s claim.

Mthethwa said that although the police close the station’s gates at night because of safety, the police station is still accessible because the gates are not locked.

She said the gate is closed at sunset to prevent attacks on the police station and access is controlled.

Mthethwa also urged residents to go to the police station to report a crime and to offer information about crime in their neighbourhood.