The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

Following a report in the Sunday Times dated 9 December 2012, regarding the building of a police station at Ubumbano, Nkandla this office deemed it necessary to put matters into proper perspective.

This construction marks the culmination of a long process that was initiated in 1995 when the Inkosi at KwaNxamalala requested the South African Police Service (SAPS) to build a police station in the Ubumbano area as a result of on-going faction fighting and crime in the area. Subsequent investigation into the feasibility of building a police station in the area began in 1997 and was finally completed in 2000.

As the case is with other studies, the study report recommended the building of a police station in that area as a means to ensure the ease of service delivery access by the communities.

The main finding of the study was that the Inkandla Police Station which services the area 51 kilometres away. The determining factor for the building of police stations is the accessibility of services to the community in terms of the Batho Pele principles.

This police station at Ubumbano that was finally approved would service surrounding areas that include Nkandla, Ekombe and Mbongolwane. This need was further planned and budgeted for during the 2010/11 planning process and was incorporated into the 2010-2014 Strategic Plan to be completed during 2013/14, a date which was later revised in 2011 to be 2014/15.

We would like to expressly intimate that there was nothing untoward in this regard as we welcome this community-police partnership demonstrated in this project which further assists the department in realising Outcome 12 of government that is espoused in the SAPS Strategic Plan 2010/14 by bringing SAPS service points closer to the communities.

Rural development remains a very crucial aspect of service delivery in the SAPS.