The R68-million triple-storey state-of-the-art Tembisa South police station, whose official opening two years ago was highly publicised, appears unable to deal with criminals in the crime-infested Ekurhuleni township.
In his parliamentary reply to a question by DA deputy chief whip Mike Waters last month, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko said the police station was being manned by only 18 visible police officers who serve more than 111000 residents.
Nhleko told Waters that there were six visible police officers per shift in all its three sectors which have 25 sections around Tembisa South.
During the September 2014 opening of the police station, which has over 200 offices, Nhleko said: "This area, Tembisa, features in the 30 high-crime areas in the categories of contact crimes, sexual-related crimes, aggravated robbery and property-related crimes. The launch of this station will go a long way in helping us fight this scourge of crime, not only in Tembisa, but also in adjacent areas."
According to official crime statistics, contact crimes (murder, assault and common robbery) went up by 846 cases between 2013 and 2015 in that area while property crimes cases went up by 595 cases .
The manpower challenges have trickled down to the operations of the community police forum (CPF) whose existence solely depends on the support from police officers.
"They [police] are doing their best to fight crime but they can't attend to crime on time. Sometimes there are no cars or even officers to accompany us on patrols. At times we have to beg them to come with us," said CPF coordinator Khathazile Sibambo.
Their guidelines dictate that an armed officer should escort CPF members on patrols.
A year ago, about nine CPF members were seriously injured after they were beaten by residents trying to protect an alleged nyaope dealer .
"Two firearms were pointed to my head. We were told to leave the area. I alerted the police using a two-way-radio but they never came," said CPF commander Sphiwe Nkosi.
Sibambo said: "A year ago we had about 246 members who also looked after schools but now we have about 100 people.
"Nobody wants to risk their lives in the name of protecting their community anymore."
Shrinking membership has seen the mushrooming of crime hotspots, including a notorious thoroughfare next to the railway line connecting Welamlambo section and Sangweni taxi rank.
A shoe repairer who runs his business next to the thoroughfare said: "It's an open secret there is a shortage of police at our station; that's why these thugs mug people any time of the day."
Station commander Colonel MD Morebodi refused to comment.
sifilel@sowetan.co.za
Crime rises despite new police station - not enough cops for Tembisa South
The R68-million triple-storey state-of-the-art Tembisa South police station, whose official opening two years ago was highly publicised, appears unable to deal with criminals in the crime-infested Ekurhuleni township.
In his parliamentary reply to a question by DA deputy chief whip Mike Waters last month, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko said the police station was being manned by only 18 visible police officers who serve more than 111000 residents.
Nhleko told Waters that there were six visible police officers per shift in all its three sectors which have 25 sections around Tembisa South.
During the September 2014 opening of the police station, which has over 200 offices, Nhleko said: "This area, Tembisa, features in the 30 high-crime areas in the categories of contact crimes, sexual-related crimes, aggravated robbery and property-related crimes. The launch of this station will go a long way in helping us fight this scourge of crime, not only in Tembisa, but also in adjacent areas."
According to official crime statistics, contact crimes (murder, assault and common robbery) went up by 846 cases between 2013 and 2015 in that area while property crimes cases went up by 595 cases .
The manpower challenges have trickled down to the operations of the community police forum (CPF) whose existence solely depends on the support from police officers.
"They [police] are doing their best to fight crime but they can't attend to crime on time. Sometimes there are no cars or even officers to accompany us on patrols. At times we have to beg them to come with us," said CPF coordinator Khathazile Sibambo.
Their guidelines dictate that an armed officer should escort CPF members on patrols.
A year ago, about nine CPF members were seriously injured after they were beaten by residents trying to protect an alleged nyaope dealer .
"Two firearms were pointed to my head. We were told to leave the area. I alerted the police using a two-way-radio but they never came," said CPF commander Sphiwe Nkosi.
Sibambo said: "A year ago we had about 246 members who also looked after schools but now we have about 100 people.
"Nobody wants to risk their lives in the name of protecting their community anymore."
Shrinking membership has seen the mushrooming of crime hotspots, including a notorious thoroughfare next to the railway line connecting Welamlambo section and Sangweni taxi rank.
A shoe repairer who runs his business next to the thoroughfare said: "It's an open secret there is a shortage of police at our station; that's why these thugs mug people any time of the day."
Station commander Colonel MD Morebodi refused to comment.
sifilel@sowetan.co.za
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