Note to Editors: Kindly find attached soundbites in English and Setswana by the DA Constituency Head, Sello Seitlholo, MP.
The Democratic Alliance will write to the National Police Minister, Bheki Cele, following an oversight inspection in Taung which revealed that there is no police station to service and protect twelve villages which include Kokomeng and Molelema that have a combined population of at least 22 742 people.
The DA will request Minister Cele to ensure that the SAPS establish a temporary satellite police station in the area and prioritise the refurbishment of a permanent station that is well-equipped, well-resourced and staffed with properly trained police officers.
The Kokomeng Police Station was burned down by local residents residing both in Molelema and Kokomeng villages in April last year in frustration with the poor services being delivered. See photos here, here, here and here.
According to the community, the police station was nothing but a white elephant which operated like a tuck shop, opening at 07:00 and closing at 16:00, and on some days not opening at all.
The police station did not have adequate resources and subsequently could not offer any assistance to the community when criminal activities were reported.
The community also alleged that police officers would often come to work intoxicated.
The dysfunctionality of the police station is evident in that the police were even unable to protect their own station in the face of the community’s frustration. It is regrettable that some community members in their frustration destroyed police infrastructure, leaving thousands of innocent community members without effective policing. It is also unfathomable that the ANC-government has failed to rectify the situation.
Residents now have to travel 70 kilometres and pay at least R100 to access services such as certifying documents and getting affidavits. Due to the long distance, the police are unable to attend to crimes that get reported, and the DA was informed that the police often arrive three days after a crime was reported as the nearest police station does not have enough police vehicles and resources to attend to their duties sufficiently.
The DA will continue its oversight role to ensure that only professional police officers who are passionate about policing are hired. We will also ensure that law and order is maintained through an effective police service.
The DA would like to reaffirm its call that the Police in all provinces be devolved from a national to a provincial mandate to bring service closer to the people.