Roodepoort: The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has identified significant obstacles at two of the province’s poorest performing police stations, including corruption allegations and a lack of community cooperation.
According to South African Government News Agency, the committee conducted visits to Roodepoort and Kempton Park police stations, which are among the top 40 worst-performing stations, to examine issues impacting crime prevention and law enforcement. They reported a troubling lack of community cooperation, with some members actively obstructing police operations by damaging police vehicles during crime responses.
At Kempton Park, the committee uncovered allegations of corruption, with officers reportedly collaborating with criminals in activities such as drug trafficking. Additionally, the station faces challenges due to a rise in undocumented foreigners, complicating law enforcement efforts. The committee highlighted the poor collaboration between the police, local councillors, and the Community Policing Forum, which hinders effective crime-fighting strategies.
Following the visits, the committee stressed the urgent need for collaboration among stakeholders to address crime comprehensively. They plan to discuss these issues with Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, focusing on resource allocation and strategic interventions. The committee remains hopeful that with adequate resources and coordinated efforts, crime rates can be reduced, citing previous successes at other stations as a positive precedent.