“HOW are cops supposed to catch thugs driving BMWs when they’re driving slow old cars?”
CPF member Bongani Maqungwana questioned Police Minister Fikile Mbalula on Wednesday during his visit to Nyanga cop shop, near Cape Town.
Maqungwana said another issue is cops’ transport to and from work. He said it is unprofessional to see officers standing on pavements waiting for taxis.
“The police shouldn’t be transported by thugs and are easy targets.”
Nyanga CPF chairman Sandile Matini said the cop station in their area has remained unchanged for years.
He said the problem was that detectives’ offices were too small and should be rebuilt so that interviews could be confidential. “If we could have a new station, it would be better.”
Neighbourhood watch members asked the minister for training so they can protect themselves as they do not get police back-up. “We don’t feel safe,” said Khanyiso Mruqelo.
One resident complained that cops don’t respond urgently when they report crime. “They ask for your name and surname and where you live. After that they tell the thug you reported them and that thug will look for you. If you report a crime, they ask your name and when you drop the phone, they just don’t care.”
Mbalula said there was no money for new cars or police stations. “The police must take care of themselves as thugs shoot first. Thugs must know we are coming for them.”
