According to a source, police investigators at the Kagisanong Police Station in Bloemfontein, with about 30 investigators, are sharing two vehicles, whilst the crime prevention officers are making use of a single vehicle to patrol the entire area with roughly 800 000 residents. 

OFM News witnessed a large contingent of police vehicles that are stranded in Bloemfontein at various police stations, which include Kopanong, Kagisanong, and Bloemspruit, amongst others. The source says some of these vehicles only have minor issues such as worn brake pads, amongst others. 

Meanwhile, the police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, says management is working on the state of the backlog experienced at various garages across the province.

In November 2020, OFM News broke the news that hundreds of vital SAPS vehicles in the province were piling up at the Bloemfontein SAPS Garage. Tens more were allegedly kept at police stations across the province, due to the lack of space at the aforementioned garage. 

Over 270 police vehicles at the time had either mechanical, panel beating, or minor service problems. The source says the continued breakdown of these vehicles has a direct bearing on how they carry out their duties, which include providing essential services. 

However, Makhele maintains that the reason behind stationary vehicles at different stations is due to lack of space at different garages to store all these vehicles. “As and when their turn to be repaired comes, they are then taken in to be repaired,” he adds.

OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane and Olebogeng Motse