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This evening, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng joined over 100 members of the Ga-Rankuwa community at a picket outside the police station, where officers continue to be forced to work in the dark. This police station has had no power since October last year and this is having a negative impact on the services offered by the South African Police Service (SAPS).

I, together with the Provincial Leader, Solly Msimanga, DA Constituency Head for Thaba Mogale, Adriana Randall, and DA PR Councillor, Ofentse Madzebatela witnessed first-hand today the conditions in which our police officers are forced to work. The police station only has two small solar lamps which do not provide sufficient light for the entire police station.

While this police station does have a generator, it is not feasible for the generator to run 24/7 seven days a week. This is because it is too costly and often police officers must dig into their own pockets to buy fuel for the generator.

Furthermore, when the generator is being run for a few hours a day it is used to only power the charge office and the courtyard.

This is a very disturbing situation as this not only puts the lives of our residents in danger but also that of the police officers. The police station does not have a reliable supply of electricity, and the gates to the station are locked as soon as it becomes dark, which makes reporting any incidents of crime difficult.

We will be working with our colleagues in Parliament, who will be submitting a petition directly to the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele and the Minister of Public Works, Patricia De Lille demanding that they remedy the situation at this police station within 72 hours.

Issued by Crezane Bosch MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Community Safety