Where squad cars go to die

18 August 2014 - 08:29 By GRAEME HOSKEN
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Police
Police
Image: PEGGY NKOMO

Maladministration and corruption have hit policing in Tshwane, with scores of high-performance SAPS vehicles gathering dust in garages waiting to be repaired.

A criminal investigation is under way.

Police management has revealed that one in five of the Gauteng police's 11000 vehicles are "in for repairs" - that is 2200.

Last month, Eastern Cape MEC for safety and liaison Weziwe Tikana revealed that the East London flying squad had no operational vehicles because of "supply chain office and capacity constraints" at the state garage.

An investigation ordered by national police commissioner Riah Phiyega in April includes an examination of contracts relating to vehicle servicing by dealerships entered into by officers at Pretoria's Silverton police garage.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale said Phiyega "has instructed the Hawks to investigate the suspected criminal conduct of some members".

"The investigation is at an early stage but arrests are expected given the corrupt conduct management has uncovered," he said.

Commanders of police garages have been transferred and the administration of all police garages has been centralised - but vehicles continue to gather dust.

A Silverton police garage mechanic said: "Phiyega's shake-up had been good but hasn't resolved the problems. Just look at these 40 cars. Some have been here since January. They should be out patrolling but the backlog is so bad we can't get to them. We barely have enough staff to do minor repairs, let alone major ones."

Makgale said "20% of the province's police vehicles are receiving attention at garages".

Makgale said that to cut into the backlog at the Silverton police garage numerous changes had been made.

"The commander was changed and a new support head appointed. At all the garages, including Pretoria, capacitating resources [human and capital] were done, artisan and management posts advertised, and processes standardised with preference given to repairing operational vehicles."

"The changes implemented are having a positive effect. Set performance targets will be achieved shortly," he said.

But Pretoria West community policing forum chairman Nagesh Chetty described the situation as "critical".

"Not only are our vehicles stuck at the garage, three of them have vanished. When management makes enquiries they're told they are gone," Chetty said. "How can a police vehicle simply vanish? On top of this the repairs done are shocking. A car is returned and the next day it breaks [down]."

A flying squad member said half of the vehicle fleet had been lost to the police garage. Even the operational vehicles were not in good shape.

"Brake pads fall off because they put on the wrong parts. The mechanics can't get spares," he said.

A Garsfontein police official said: "If a light goes, it could take six weeks to replace. So now we do it."

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