Parliament, Sunday, 3 December 2023 – The Portfolio Committee on Police has welcomed the assurance from senior management of the South African Police Service (SAPS) that the infrastructure development of the Muyexe Police Station is nearing completion and it has called that the end of January deadline for completion of all outstanding work must be met.
The committee conducted an InLoco site visit to the station yesterday and was impressed by the quality of the project. It highlighted that all measures must be put in place to ensure that the envisioned opening of the station in April 2024 is achieved. Also, the committee highlighted that the current low rate of incidents of crime might be because of underreporting since the nearest police station is in Giyani 40km away.
The committee also welcomed the assurance that human resources, furniture, and vehicles have been procured and are ready for delivery upon opening of the station. Despite this, the committee is concerned that the provincial SAPS management has set aside only three vehicles for the station. The concern arises from the gravel condition of the roads that might cause delays in the manner in which the station responds to the communities it serves.
However, the assurance of the provision of more vehicles to the station allayed some of the committee’s concerns to some extent. Regarding human resources, the committee appreciated that a total of 35 police personnel will be available to start duty when the station is opened.
The committee welcomed the report that there is a conducive working relationship between the SAPS and Community Police Forum (CPF) which is required to ensure collaboration in the fight against crime. It called for sustainable and strengthened collaborative interaction between the SAPS and CPF as community involvement and participation is at the heart of effective policing.
Despite glowing assessment of the project, the committee raised concern with the lengthy delay in opening the station at the detriment of the local community. “We are generally pleased that finally this project is nearing completion and that the people of the area will be served. But it is concerning that the project, which forms part of the Presidential Nodal Point, was initiated in 2014 and has not been completed in 2023, almost 10 years to the date of the first brick being laid,” said Mr Nocks Seabi, the Chairperson of the committee.
Meanwhile, the committee accepted the report that the SAPS only paid the initial contractor, whose contract was eventually terminated, for the value of the work done. The committee has called on the SAPS to initiate steps to blacklist the company to prevent it from doing further business with the state.
The committee’s visit to Limpopo was necessitated by concerns around delays in completing infrastructure projects. Today the committee will visit the Bolobedu Police Station in Ga-Kgapane and Mankweng Police Station. The Ga-Kgapane Police Station has been under construction for more than six years but has not been completed yet. The committee will assess progress thus far.
The visit to Mankweng Police Station was necessitated by the fact that the station ranks number three on the national list of Top 30 police stations contributing to rape cases. Between April and June 2023, 54 rapes were recorded at the station. The committee will assess implementation of strategies to turn things around and ensure that crime is ended in the area.
Details of the Visit (Ga-Kgapane)
Date: Sunday, 3 December 2023
Time: 09:30
Venue: Bolobedu Police Station (Ga-Kgapane)
Details of the Visit (Mankweng Police Station)
Date: Sunday, 3 December 2023
Time: 12:30
Venue: Mankweng Police Station
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE, MR NOCKS SEABI.
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