The Democratic Alliance in the Northern Cape is calling on the MEC of Transport, Safety and Liaison, Nontobeko Vilakazi, to revise the key performance areas of the department to ensure more frequent oversight to police stations in the province.

This comes after responses from the department confirmed that oversight is not conducted as frequently as stated by the department’s mandate.

In recent responses to questions from the DA, the department reported that the 21 police stations without Victim Friendly Rooms (VFR) will only be fitted with a suitable “room” as soon as the National South African Police Service reprioritizes provincial requirements of its User Asset Management Plan.

It is worrisome to note that the DA’s oversight to police stations earlier this year proved that police stations in the province are in fact in dire need of more frequent oversight by the department to ensure the safety of civilians and proper resourcing for effective policing over the festive season.

The department contradicts itself in reporting on its accountability and oversight of police stations in our province.

It is critical for our police to be adequately resourced for them to conduct effective policing in our communities, especially in the midst of the festive season.

We encourage the department to increase on oversight to police stations in our province, not just for compliance but to ensure due diligence and to enforce that police stations have enough police vans and enough skilled personnel on duty for every shift.

It is crucial that during the festive season, when crime peaks and cases of abuse increases, that our police stations are adequately equipped with the necessary tools of trade to ensure civilian safety.

 

Issued by The DA