The DA member in the Free State Legislature, Leona Kleynhans, who is the party's spokesperson on police matters, says they were confronted by the crippling consequences of management failures on the effectiveness of policing during their recent oversight visits to seven police stations in the Qwaqwa and Phumelela areas. Kleynhans explains that they discovered that the SAPS garage in Phuthaditjhaba is still in a derelict state with a collapsed fence, and no security, while parts, engines and vehicles are being stolen. 

She adds that the stations have reported up to 50% of their vehicles unavailable, for years, and the garage reports that it is able to service vehicles, brakes and tyres, but has been without oil for several weeks. Kleynhans also stated that the blame for the long delay in the repair of vehicles is said to be because of the long waiting periods for authorisation from Wesbank, for either parts or the outsourcing of repairs. 

She says major repairs are outsourced to five service providers in Qwaqwa, but stations complain about the quality of the work done because the vehicles are only on the road for a few days before they break down again.

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Police spokesperson, Peter Kareli, says the collapsed fence at the Phuthaditjhaba SAPS Garage has been reported and placed on a project plan by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

“A reference number has been allocated. The repair of the fence, because of its magnitude, cannot be repaired in terms of the day-to-day maintenance plan. It is part of capital works located with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. Criminal cases have been opened and registered for the thefts reported. Oil is procured on contract and the garage in Phuthaditjhaba is still to receive its delivery,” he said.

Kleynhans further said the lack of human resources is also impacting service delivery by the Warden Police Station, which has a backlog of 1366 dockets and only one allocated detective. However, Kareli has since denied those allegations and stated that the Warden Police Station currently has 852 cases of which 395 are in court, with most of the remaining 457 cases being traffic fines. He further said that the station has four detectives comprising 3 Sergeants and a Warrant Officer as the Acting Detective Commander, with five support staff members serving all station members, including Detectives, so far.

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