Apel police station under sourced
APEL
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Limpopo said it has learnt with shock and disbelief that the Apel Police Station based at Ga-Nchabeleng village in Apel, is under resourced to an extent of not operating for 24 hours, regardless of the rampant crime plaguing the area.
The red beret said the safety of residents is at stake, given that the station operates like a Tuck Shop, let alone the lack of Police vans, manpower and police visibility.
A member of provincial legislature Winnie Mphahlele said police officers use corrugated mobile offices with little to no privacy for victims of crime such as GBV.
Winnie said her organisation is deeply concerned about the way the Police Station in question is being managed because when it opens at 6 AM and closes at 6 PM on a daily basis, it means that during the night residents cannot report cases such as rape, robbery, car theft, housebreaking etc.
The party lamented safer festive season operations campaign launched by minister of police in Thohoyandou last week calling it “toothless and directionless”
“It is an undisputable fact that policing in Sekhukhune is in crisis while SAPS and law enforcement agencies are not implementing comprehensive safety and crime prevention programmes. The circumstances surrounding the Apel Police Station demonstrates and exposes the PR stunts made by Minister of Police Bheki Cele who launched a toothless and directionless so called safer festive season operations campaign in Thohoyandou last week. How can SAPS ensure residents’ safety during festive season while Police officers knock off at 6pm, thus throwing the residents into the lions den daily,” said Winnie.
“The campaign is unfounded and does not inspire hope nor confidence especially here in Limpopo where robberies, murders, rape and GBV incidents are rife with criminals having more ammunition and automatic weapons more than the Police who are supposed to prevent crime and protect the community,” she said.
Winnie also said the EFF is dismayed by the lack of Police personnel and resources such as Police vans and satellite police stations in rural areas, this is a serious concern and a major contributor to the prevalence of crime.
“At this stage, we cannot shy away from the fact that the prevailing conditions on the ground suggest that Police officers are most likely to be overwhelmed and over powered by criminals,” Winnie explained.
“The EFF calls on SAPS and the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety to ensure that the Apel Police Station is operational for 24 hours, seven days per week and also beef up resources immediately,” she concluded.
