No wheels for flying squad

IN an alarming case of government’s lack of police resources, the ZO has received information that the SAPS flying squad covering the whole Zululand area is being forced to operate with only one vehicle.

Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, across all four shifts, the 10111 command centre and flying squad unit has access to only one vehicle – that of Unit Commander Captain Gumede.

According to the ZO source, who requested anonymity, Captain Gumede offers this vehicle, a VW Golf, to the flying squad so members can perform their duties.

This despite two brand new vehicles allocated to the Richards Bay unit sitting unused in storage in Pinetown, with the SAPS Provincial Commissioner’s office reportedly unwilling to release them.

‘The community needs service delivery, but we are limited by our resources,’ said the source.

‘Other vehicles are stuck at the SAPS garage in Alton.

‘How can we possibly assist the public with such a shortage of vehicles?’

Should this vehicle break down or require a service, the unit will be station-bound, unable to attend to any emergencies or call-outs.

This is a major service delivery issue, and one that could potentially see citizens left without protection from criminal elements.

Under-resourced SAPS units appear to be a provincial problem as hundreds of vehicles sit at the SAPS Oribi Village garage in Pietermaritzburg, awaiting either services or parts.

The ZO is expecting a statement from the KZN SAPS Media Centre which was contacted earlier in the week for comment, but is yet to respond.