Cops short of bullet-proof vests, weapons

THE Tshwane metro police department has many officers who run the risk of being killed due to a lack of bullet-proof vests and firearms – in at least three of its regions.

This was revealed in a council report tabled during the ordinary monthly sitting on Thursday.

The report was compiled after visits undertaken by oversight committee members on community safety to metro police centres in Mamelodi, Cullinan and Bronkhorstspruit.

Committee chairperson Alfred Makhafola said the members visited the centres in November and found that there were shortages of resources, including firearms.

“Some of the department’s intakes recruited in 2015 were not given the firearms,” he said.

In Cullinan, members said officers reported for duty without bullet-proof vests.

Makhafola said: “The bullet-proof vests are there, but some of them are not the right sizes for officers. The department is in the process of purchasing them. It is just a matter of supply chain processes that need to be followed.”

Members also expressed concern about a shortage of vehicles at the station. There were 14 vehicles at the station, but 10 of them had been booked in for repairs at the time of the visit.

“Only two sedans are operational, and are not effective for area patrols and for making arrests. In most cases, members would transport suspects in these vehicles and thus put the lives of the members in danger,” the report said.

More shockingly, it came to light that officers used cable ties to handcuff people under arrest because there were no handcuffs.

According to the report, this situation posed a risk to offenders and was also highly dangerous to members of the metro police service.

In addition, the members were concerned about a container office declared unsafe in 2015 because it didn’t comply with the Occupational Health Safety Standards, but was still kept in the vicinity.

“The container office was closed down in 2015, and since then it had not been used. They are using some of the offices inside one of the buildings there.”

According to Makhafola, health inspectors found that the container didn’t have an occupancy certificate and an electrical certificate of compliance.

“The building did not comply with the National Building Regulations,” it was stated in the report. There was no drinkable water available as the pipeline had been disconnected.

“Only one female and one male restroom are provided for 93 officials and community members.

“The roof was damaged and leaked. Windows of the container do not open, as a result there was no cross-ventilation.

“A ventilation survey was conducted in November 2015. However, no action was taken subsequent to that to address safety issues raised,” according to the report.

There was only one computer at the station, with no network points, and hand radios were not functional due to the lack of network.

A shortage of firearms was a concern for police officers at Bronkhorstspruit, where 119 members were stationed.

It was discovered that the station had five radios and one printer. At least 14 of its 21 vehicles had broken down.

The ceilings of buildings at the station were falling apart and fire extinguishers were out of service.

The committee called for renovations and an extension of the building.

The lack of security monitoring screens at the building was raised as a concern.