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ActionSA today marched to the offices of Police Minister, Bheki Cele, who should’ve been dismissed years ago for his incompetence, where we handed over a memorandum to demand that action be taken within the next three months to urgently address the continued decline in the quality of South African Police Stations. 

Over the past few weeks, we have repeatedly been reminded of the decay of the South African Police Service (SAPS). From the assault of South Africans by the SAPS’s VIP unit to Thabo Bester’s escape and Zama Zamas in Riverlea, our residents are being left defenceless as the South African police continue to fail to respond to emergencies or do not have appropriate equipment. 

Out of the hundreds of complaints ActionSA received from South Africans in the lead up to our march, 60% of responses highlighted police stations where telephone lines aren’t working, more than 50% indicated a lack of electricity at police stations during load shedding, and hundreds where police do not have enough working vehicles.

That is why, as a party which values the rule of law, ActionSA is demanding that Minister Cele takes action to turn around the situation – highlighted by South Africa’s ever increasing murder rate - by presenting an action plan within three months. Among others, we want him to ensure that: 

All South African police stations have access to backup generation in the event of load shedding to ensure they remain functional.  

All South African police stations have working telephone numbers that communities can contact in the event of an emergency.  

An audit of all South African police stations is conducted to highlight the number of infrastructure or equipment defects such as broken windows and vehicles.  

South Africans have clearly lost trust in the police and have reason to be. The ever-worsening crime stats paint a grim picture of just how out of control crime is getting in this country. The murder rate has returned to 2000s levels after reaching its lowest point in 2012, sexual violence is on the increase and robbery with aggravating circumstances is reaching some of its highest levels yet.  

ActionSA continues to celebrate the work done by the many men and women in uniform who work tirelessly, against all odds, to give effect to their duties to keep some of us safe. They perform their duties with distinction.

But these police officers are let down by a politicised leadership who instead of caring about the needs of South Africans, use the police service for their own self-interest or to protect the political elite. 

ActionSA will maintain pressure on Minister Cele to ensure that action is taken to improve the police service, and that the lives of ordinary South Africans are protected. For too long our people have been let down, and ActionSA is committed to turning the situation around. 

Issued by ActionSA President Herman Mashaba