AFTER 20 years of promises, residents from Makhaza in Khayelitsha will finally have a cop shop in their kasi.
Minister of Police Bheki Cele, National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola and Western Cape police management visited a newly built police station in the Makhaza area on Tuesday, 12 March.
Residents believe the presence of the new cop shop ekasi will go a long way in stabilising crime that torments their kasi.
Resident Zikhona Maqobolo (45) said criminals knew that cops dragged their feet when responding to crime reports.
“Despite a container being put at the mall, thugs knew it was only about certifying documents and opening cases and had no vans. One van would be seen parked outside the container and the next minute it's gone. It's good as not having a cop shop. We expect the police to be visible on our streets,” said Zikhona.
Community leader, Lulama Notywala (39) said in August 2023, well-known kasi lawyer and activist, Ayanda Gladile (34) was shot and killed not far from the new police station.
“He was shot and killed while chilling with friends and the killers ran away. I believe if the cop shop was already built, he wouldn’t have been killed because the murder scene is close to the cop shop,” said Lulama.
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Residents said the vacant space was identified for a cop shop back in 2004 and they have been waiting since then.
The Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry into Policing report, which was released in 2014, also highlighted that a cop shop in the area was long overdue.
Cele said the cop shop needs final touches before it is open to the public.
“It has taken six months to complete the Makhaza Police Station and this is commendable and encourages us to do more to ensure policing services are not a ‘nice to have’ but are accessible to all.
"We've been assured by contractors that electricity and water connections on the site will be completed in the coming weeks and the station will be fully operational,” he said.
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