POLICING IN THE DARK Tongaat SAPS left without electricity
CRIME-FIGHTINGby candlelight. This is the reality for officers based at Tongaat police station, which has had no electricity for more than a month.
The officers say they are unable to do their jobs efficiently, particularly after dark, and feel that their concerns have fallen on deaf ears.
There has been no word yet from the Department of Public Works as to when power will be restored to the “crippled” police station, although there have been indications that it may take as long as four years before the station gets a consistent power supply.
“It is very hard to do our jobs properly when we are faced with such problems. Not having a basic service like electricity hampers service delivery to such an extent that lives in the community are at risk,” said a policeman.
“We cannot use our computers and telephones, and specialised departments like the detective unit, crime prevention and the trauma centre cannot be used after hours.
“A small generator serves the charge office, but that’s not enough. The problem needs to be rectified.”
He said suspects brought to the station could not be photographed because the photographic equipment needed power.
“This leaves room for the suspects to commit more crimes and get away with them, because we don’t have photographs to identify them. Vital information has been lost and the crime stats are blown away.”
The source said police could not work after dark, but tried to do as much paper work as possible using candles.
“We are running a critical service, but there is only so muchwe can do. The rest needs to be inputted on computers, which we are unable to use. Now the station’s work is backlogged and can only be done when the lights are back on,” he said.
For three weeks Tongaat SAPS was also without its telephone lines and locals were forced to phone the Verulam SAPS in life-threatening situations in the hope that the message would be passed on to Tongaat officers.
Phone lines were only restored this week.
DA councillor Brian Jayanathan said: “The ongoing tripping of electricity has hurt the community.
“The issues here are serious and the residents are paying the price for lack of resources within the municipality.
“This department plays a crucial role in much-needed essential services and the government is failing its people.
“Where is the better life for all?” asked Jayanathan.
He said he had visited the station and met police officials to get a better understanding of their plight.
Jayanathan helped to bring the problem to the attention of the Department of Public Works.
“Once the matter was addressed, people from the department came to the station, but only connected a small generator to the charge office. They did not bother to fix the entire problem,” said Jayanathan.
In a written communication to the station, the public works department said it was waiting for funding from the national office to rectify the situation.
Once R750 000 in funding is granted, the Tongaat SAPS will get a full upgrade of the building, including proper electrical supplies.
“Crime and safety are on all our minds,” Jayanathan said.
“The seriousness (of the situation) cannot be emphasised any further and action needs to be seen.
“Many officers cannot perform their duties effectively due to the shortcomings of the public works department. They are well aware of the problems experienced at the Tongaat Police Station. It urgently needs an upgrade.”
Police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Mandy Govender confirmed the situation at the station, but could not respond directly to the Sunday Tribune. Queries were directed to the KZN Media Centre, which then directed them to the public works department.
In a meeting between the station and officials from the department last week, it emerged that funds at the department were low and the issue of upgrading the station would be revisited in 2016.
Thami Mchunu, public works spokesman, said although the National Department of Public Works was responsible for upgrading and maintaining all SAPS facilities in KZN, the funding for the upgrade in Tongaat was budgeted for by the SAPS as a capital works project.
“The SAPS has not officially requested the national department to commence with the upgrading or renovations (capital or planned maintenance) project,” he said.
alyssia.birjalal@inl.co.za