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Dawid Kruiper’s municipal patrols have come to a standstill for the past three weeks, placing municipal infrastructure in Upington at risk.

The municipality’s only security vehicle has been undriveable for weeks because of smooth tyres.

The ramifications for security services are serious.

Patrols of the dams and sub-stations, as well as general crime prevention patrols, cannot take place, exposing key-points to vandals and criminals. The security unit cannot respond to complaints and shift changes cannot be made. This is a concern given that there has been a significant number of incidences of theft of cables and municipal resources in the past year.

By-laws also cannot be enforced, as the security team is stranded at the office.

All that the security unit can do is to issue 341 notices by post, for violations such as traffic tickets.

I have addressed the matter with the management of the security unit and will continue to place pressure on the municipality until security services are fully operational again.

Smooth tyres are easily replaceable and should not be allowed to pull the brake on security services.

Issued by Dawid Kruiper municipality, Albie Van Zyl, Cllr