This statement follows an oversight inspection by the DA Shadow Minister of Police, Zakhele Mbhele MP, the DA Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Annette Steyn MP, the DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Police, Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, and the DA Thembisile Hani Constituency Head, Henro Kruger MP, to the KwaMhlanga Police Station in Mpumalanga. Please find attached pictures here, here, here and here.
Today, the DA conducted an oversight inspection at the KwaMhlanga Police Station in Mpumalanga. The DA met with 110 community members in the KwaMhlanga community who spoke to the DA regarding the high stock theft rates in the area.
Community members expressed their frustrations and mistrust in the police with regards to their failure to handle instances of stock theft in the area with the necessary urgency.
KwaMhlanga residents claimed that whenever they report stock thefts, the police fail to provide them with a CAS numbers and that none of the cattle that have been reported missing or stolen, have been returned.
These statements are in stark contrast with claims made by the police at the KwaMhlanga Police Station. The police stated that 80% of cattle that have been reported missing or stolen, have been returned to its owners.
Another area of concern was the state of the police station. The station’s infrastructure was clearly neglected and this is indicative of the callous disregard the ANC shows for the safety of rural communities.
The disconnect between the police and community members are alarming considering the police station having its own stock theft unit. The DA is of the view that the unit is under-capacitated and under-resourced. Rural communities cannot be ignored and forgotten by the government. The stock theft rates in the KwaMhlanga community are unsustainable and relate directly to the lack of resources available to the South African Police Services in the area and inadequate policing.
The DA is of the view that the only way to address the rampant criminality in many rural communities is the reintroduction of specialised rural safety units.
South Africa deserves the kind of change that takes the safety of rural communities seriously. Only the DA can deliver that change.