Resource increase for Gamalakhe police station
The police station that was completed in 2018 is also known for allegedly closing its gates to the public during the evenings and opening them in the morning.
The newly opened Gamalakhe police station may look beautiful, but the service given to the community is not as appealing. This was a sentiment shared by the Community Police Forum (CPF) chairperson, Jabulani Lushaba after Police Minister Bheki Cele officially opened the station on Monday last week.
The police station, which was completed in 2018, is also known for allegedly closing its gates to the public during the evenings and opening in the morning.
Lushaba said there are cases of shootings from 2020 that have been unsolved, saying that some of the families of the victims have not heard anything about those cases since they were opened.
Also, Gabisani Cele of the Gamalakhe Forum said although they are thrilled that the station has been opened, it is very hard trying to assist the police of Gamalakhe.
“As the forum and CPF, we work hard to assist the police with their work but it is those very same police officers who are working against us. When we catch the people who steal and break into houses, they are encouraged by the very same officers to open cases against us. As we speak, we are currently attending cases against our members,” said Cele.
Speaking to the media, Minister Cele said the township of Gamalakhe has been plagued with bloodshed, especially the areas of KwaXaba and Qinabout, saying that they hope that the official opening will bring peace and safety to the area.
He said he has seen the crime statistics of Gamalakhe and that they are not as bad as in some other areas.
“However, the police officers have to work hard so that there are zero murders, zero rape and crime in this area. We hope that the station will work together with the community. The national commissioner has brought in a new station commander who loves and executes his work well,” he said.
Cele said the reason why the station was closed during the evenings was because only two officers were working per shift.
He added: “So when they were doing patrols, no one was left in the station. This station is no longer commanded by a captain but by a lieutenant colonel. The resources will be increased, more police officers will be deployed, and vehicles will be added. The new police officers fresh from college will be able to do the shifts. So the station will not be closed if there are 10 police officers per station. We hope that by placing a lieutenant colonel here and adding more police officers, people will be able to get the service they need.”
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