Masiphumelele’s satellite police station was driven away and hasn’t been seen since. It reportedly failed a roadworthy test and needs a part from France.
|||Cape Town - In November when Deputy Police Minister Maggie Sotyu opened a satellite police station in Masiphumelele, residents had high hopes it would help reduce the violent crime plaguing the area.
The “mobile community service centre” was housed in a minibus with a counter and two holding cells.
But just over a month ago, it was driven away and hasn’t been seen since. It reportedly failed a roadworthy test and needs a part from France.
Masiphumelele community leader Tshepo Moletsane said the satellite police station disappeared on April 13, a day after Western Cape Police Ombudsman, Vusi Pikoli had addressed the community to listen to their concerns over policing.
“One day it was there and the next it wasn’t,” Moletsane said, adding there had been no proper explanation.
“When we asked Lieutenant Colonel Errol Mekeur (Ocean View Station Commander) he said it was away because of maintenance.”
But today is the 34th day it has not been there.
Activist Rosemary Milbank said she had been in touch with the Ocean View Community Police Forum to enquire why the mobile police station had disappeared out of Masiphumelele.
The response she received was:”The vehicle failed its roadworthy test because of an air bag fault and is therefore not roadworthy. The part is being imported from France. The Station Commissioner would have liked to have set up a temporary facility, but this was disallowed at Cluster level.”
The forum added: “We are not experts in employment law, but the reason given has to do with employee rights and that a facility provided by an employer has to pass various standards and checked by the relevant departments before it can be used by the (police).
“This is apparently a lengthy process and it is expected that the mobile unit will be back in service before the process has run its course.”
Moletsane said the community had had high expectations when the satellite police station opened, but that the only service it had provided was certifying documents.
However, he said that was better than nothing.
“Now people have to go to Ocean View to get their documents certified because even that service is no longer provided.”
Community leaders and residents have called for a permanent police station for many years, but when Sotyu opened the satellite police last year she said it wouldn’t happen anytime soon.
The area is regularly marred by violent service delivery protests and vigilante attacks.
Last week, violence erupted when a section of the community decided to enforce the boycott of taxi drivers who had declined to ferry people to court.
They wanted to be there to support community activist Lubabalo Vellem who was appearing in the Simon’s Town magistrate’s court to amend his bail conditions. He is also facing charges of murder, attempted murder, and assault following several mob justice incidents last year.
A peace agreement was eventually worked out, but residents are concerned drug related crimes and violence could erupt at any time.
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said the vehicle used as a satellite police station at Masiphumelele was currently in for repairs.
“At this moment a patrol vehicle is used in the place of the satellite police station and it is parked daily in the same area. The community has not been deprived of a policing service due to this arrangement.”
Cape Argus
