Tens more are allegedly kept at police stations across the province, due to the lack of space at the aforementioned garage. A reliable source tells OFM News that over 270 police vehicles either have mechanical, panel beating, or minor service problems and are piling up at this already overstretched garage. The source says 50 more cars with brake pads and carburetor issues from Park Road, Navalsig, and Kopanong Police Stations should also be added to the already high number of vehicles at the garage currently.  

Furthermore over 300 vehicles have been classified as write-offs because of the extent of damage suffered during the accidents, have been gathering dust at the garage for almost five years, waiting to be compacted. Police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, confirms there is a backlog which is currently being addressed and he says the compacting of vehicles already started in March 2020 but due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the process had to be stopped.

OFM News understands that the situation at the Botshabelo Police Station is far more dire as compared to other stations in the province. Welkom is another city in the province affected by very similar issues. 

A second source informs OFM News that at one point, the detective division at Navalsig did not have vehicles because of breakdowns. It’s understood that the problem with the pilling up of cars which needs minor servicing, like the replacing of oil or a smaller part of the car, forces the mechanics at the garage to wait for days because some parts would have to be imported from countries such as Germany, through private spare part shops. In some instances, services would take roughly seven days because the mechanics would have to go out and source three quotations from private spare part shops.

 OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane and Olebogeng Motse