A written parliamentary reply to the Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has revealed the full extent of the dire situation when it comes to turnaround times for South African Police Service (SAPS) vehicle repairs in the province.
The response, by Community Safety MEC, Peggy Nkonyeni, (view here) paints a very bleak picture, with the following shocking information when it comes to repairs at four of KZN’s worst SAPS stations for serious crime, including murder and rape;
Inanda SAPS – South Africa’s rape capital station
– Minor engine repair – 53 days
– Minor brake overhaul – 72 days
– Electrical starting fault – 113 days
Umlazi SAPS
– Battery replacement – 19 days
– Minor brake system repair – 36 days
– Electric ignition repair – 42 days
– Electric accessories and wiring – 130 days
– Minor bodywork – 154 days
Plessislaer SAPS:
– Windscreen repairs – 36 days
– Minor brake system repairs – 40 days
– Windscreen repairs – 50 days
– Battery replacement – 50 days
– Minor exhaust repairs – 76 days
– Electric accessories and wiring – 106 days
– Minor brake system repairs – 121 days
Kwamashu E:
– Electric accessories and wiring – 91 days
– Minor cooling system fault – 92 days
This information illustrates the hopeless inadequacies that exist within SAPS. It also begs the question of many vehicles are on the ground at any given time, keeping our communities safe. If a vehicle is sitting for 121 days waiting for minor brake repairs, this is four months that it is not able to attend serious crimes.
Regrettably, this is by no means an isolated situation with numerous other SAPS stations listed when it comes to severe delays on repairs. These include the following;
– Franklin SAPS – windscreen repairs – 79 days
– Bulwer SAPS – windscreen repairs – 120 days
– Bulwer SAPS – minor brake system repairs – 126 days
– Ndwedwe SAPS – windscreen repairs – 135 days
– Impendle SAPS – 15 000km service – 150 days
– Nandeni SAPS – windscreen repairs – 77 days
– Kwadukuza – battery replacement – 186 days
– Pietermaritzburg SAPS – windscreen repairs – 193 days
– Kwadukuza SAPS – minor bodywork repairs – 206 days
If these are the kind of turnaround times being experienced, then it is little wonder that lawlessness is so rife in our province. There is a direct correlation between these vehicles being unavailable and KZN’s rising crime statistics.
The real travesty is that lives are constantly lost in our province as a result of a lack of police visibility, which is being compounded by a scarcity of the vital resource of a vehicle.
The burning questions are – how are KZN’s people supposed to feel safe under the circumstances? And how are members on the ground supposed to do their jobs properly?
These findings are in stark contrast to the provincial government’s promises that it is dedicated to fixing and redirecting SAPS resources. It is clear that urgent interventions are needed for the sake of our communities who are in dire need of a safe and crime-free province. KZN’s Community Safety and Liaison Department owes this much at least, particularly to the most vulnerable sectors of our society – our women, children and elderly.
This Department cannot continue to operate with such a lack of urgency. The DA expects swift action from MEC Nkonyeni. The lives and safety of KZN’s citizens are in her hands.
