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This past week, Western Cape MEC of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen conducted various announced and unannounced oversight visits to South African Police Services (SAPS) stations in the Garden Route District.

These visits included attending the morning parade at 05:45 at the Mossel Bay SAPS, along with afternoon parade visits at the Thembalethu and Knysna SAPS stations. Along with these visits, posters, explaining how residents can be rewarded with up to R 5 000 for reporting where an illegal firearm can be found were also placed at the Mossel Bay, Da Gamaskop, Grootbrak Rivier, Thembalethu, Conville, Pacaltsdorp, George Central and Knysna SAPS stations.

When officers report for duty, the SAPS shift commander should follow a strict standard operating procedure (SOP), which amongst others includes the following:

• Conducting a parade where operational members are tasked and briefed,
• Ensuring that all members are sober, neat, dressed accordingly and have the necessary and required equipment,
• Inspect the occurrence book,
• Conducting an inspection of firearms,
• Relaying crime and any other critical information obtained from the previous shift,
• Indicating to members what their duties and or postings are and what is expected from them,
• Relaying specific information about patrol areas and
• Conducting an inspection of the holding cells.
   

MEC Reagen Allen said: “I was deeply concerned with the manner in which Mossel Bay officers conducted themselves upon my arrival at the station at 05:45 on Wednesday morning. I take strong exception to their unprofessionalism and dismissive behaviour. I cannot confirm that a parade occurred as I was not allowed to observe this activity. I took this matter up with the SAPS management in the area, who attended to it. I was given the assurance that this was not the standard manner in which they operate and that it will never occur again. I do however commend both the Thembalethu and Knysna stations for their efficient parades, ensuring that they follow the SOP. I have stated previously that stations should expect me to arrive at any given time to conduct these, and various other types of oversight visits. It is important that a professional and efficient SAPS service is available to the public.”

The reward system, which was relaunched at the end of April this year, seeks to encourage residents to report the location of illegal firearms by dialing 021 466 0011. The person reporting the firearm can do so anonymously, or they can share their details with the trusted SAPS officers that will field the calls. The details of the person reporting the firearms will under no circumstances be made public. Upon reporting the firearm, it will be collected by SAPS. Once it is confirmed as an illegal firearm, R 1 500.00 will be awarded to the individual who reported it. When an arrest is made that is directly linked to the firearm, a further R 1 500.00 will be paid to the person who reported it and should there be a conviction that is tied to the firearm, the balance of R 2 000.00 will be paid out to the person who made the report.

Minster Reagen Allen added: “We relaunched this initiative as we want to ensure that illegal firearms are removed from our communities. Along with departmental officials, I will be visiting stations across the province so that these posters are visible and that all community members become familiar with them. We want our residents to utilise this opportunity and inform us where these illegal firearms are. The 4th quarter crime statistics, January to March 2023, of the 2022/23 financial year shows that firearms, with 44,6%, were the leading instrument used to commit murder in the province.”

“We want to ensure that through our oversight, better services are delivered at all SAPS stations. Under no circumstances should any person who uses SAPS’ service experience secondary victimisation or not be attended to. We will continue holding SAPS accountable for the manner in which they conduct themselves, as their primary function is to serve and protect the citizens of our country and this province. I urge our SAPS officers to not lose sight of their oath and the commitment that they made to the citizens of this country. These along with various other reasons confirm why devolution is immediately required. At every single step of the way, we will ensure that our officers are professional and above reproach,” concluded MEC Reagen Allen.

Issued by The Western Cape Police Oversight and Community Safety