Top cop admits to failures

Western Cape police chief Arno Lamoer yesterday admitted for the first time that Khayelitsha police stations were bedevilled by shoddy investigations, crippling backlogs and barely functioning specialist units.

Lamoer apologised to township residents for the inadequacy of the resources deployed to fight crime in their area.

Testifying at the commission of inquiry into allegations of poor policing in the township, Lamoer said: "I'm prepared to apologise for the lack of services rendered to address crime in Khayelitsha."

Lamoer and Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa had tried to block the DA provincial government from establishing the commission.

But Lamoer said the police alone should not be blamed for the prevalence of crime in Khayelitsha.

"We're responsible for peace and stability in the various areas and we accept the shortcomings in fighting crime.

"[But] I think it is unfair for the police to apologise for the high levels of crime because it is not only the police that are responsible for the levels of crime to come down," he said.

He said there were serious staff shortages at the township's three police stations - Harare, Lingelethu West and Khayelitsha.

He said the unit investigating serious cases such as rape was barely functioning.

The commission, in its seventh week, has heard that the three police stations were understaffed, unlike those in more affluent areas such as Sea Point.

Lamoer said a new police station would be built in Makhaza to reduce the pressure on Harare.

The commission - headed by former Constitutional Court justice Kate O'Regan and former national director of public prosecutions Vusi Pikoli - is looking into allegations of incompetent policing made by NGOs, including the Social Justice Coalition.

The NGOs said police incompetence had resulted in a breakdown in relations between the community and the police, which had led to numerous vigilante killings.

The commission will resume hearings on May 12.