Police without wheels give crime some extra time
4 July 2023
Shocking figures of broken down and unused police vehicles strengthen Solidarity’s growing concern over the critical state and decay of property connected to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Police Minister Bheki Cele confirmed in a parliamentary answer that up to 21% of police vehicles used for visible policing and 15% of those used nationwide by the detective service are not in a running condition.
These figures confirm findings in a report of the Solidarity’s Research Institute (SRI) of 2022 in which the state and shortage of vehicles in the detective service are exposed.
“After the release of the report in 2022, one would have expected the problem to be addressed as a matter of urgency,” said Theuns du Buisson of the SRI.
“Nevertheless, it is once again clear that the opposite is true and that in reality, the problems with regard to vehicles in the SAPS have worsened.”
While the figures give an overview of the increased challenging state under which police members have to execute their responsibilities, the implications stretch even further.
These vehicle shortages also have serious consequences for victims of crime, as law enforcement officers are unable to respond to crime or to rush to the aid of victims.
In terms of these percentages, as presented by Cele, the situation is the worst in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal where more than 26% of vehicles that can be used for visible policing have broken down.
This decay in the SAPS is obviously not limited to vehicles. Solidarity’s report on detective services also mentions the neglect of offices and shortages of equipment. This includes essential forensic equipment as well as basic office supplies such as stationery and even toilet paper.
“These numbers highlight the contempt of the government and police management for their officers, and by implication also for citizens who are defenceless victims of crime,” Du Buisson said.
Solidarity calls on the government to address this state of affairs and the further decay taking place as a matter of urgency.
Issued by Theuns du Buisson, Economic Researcher, Solidarity Research Institute (SRI), 4 July 2023
