As many as 449 police vehicles that ought to be used to keep the Free State safe are broken down.
The number was revealed in a reply by the Free State MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, Jabu Mbalula, to a question by the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) in the Provincial Legislature.
These vehicles cannot be used as a result of repairs and inspections, among other things.
The number is particularly alarming because these vehicles could be used to ensure residents’ safety in rural areas.
Organised agriculture in the province concurs that just over 100 vehicles is needed to effectively implement the Rural Safety Strategy in the Free State.
The Strategy entails, among other things, that every rural police station should have at least one police vehicle at its disposal to ensure rural safety.
According to the MEC, there is not one police station in the entire province where a specific vehicle has been exclusively earmarked for ensuring rural safety.
Livestock theft and general security are factors affecting the agricultural sector. Every available resource is needed to curb crime in rural areas.
At the moment, there are too many incidents in the country where the police either take too long to respond and reach a crime scene or simply do not show up at all.
The Freedom Front Plus will demand answers to the following questions from the Department in the relevant Portfolio Committee in the Legislature: Why are so many vehicles unused? How will the situation be remedied?
The party will also ask the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, to look into the matter.
The Free State cannot afford to have a single police officer or police vehicle not functioning properly.
