MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Western Cape Community Safety MEC, Minister Albert Fritz, on Friday, 26 July, visited KwaNonqaba unannounced to acquaint himself with the working conditions and lack of maintenance at the local police station.
The minister expressed his concern at the escalation of gang-related criminality in the area.
He commended the work of neighbourhood watch groups and the community police forum and insisted that addressing other social ills in the community must also be prioritised.
He insisted that a collaborative strategy to combat crime is imperative.
This follows a recent, comprehensive letter to the minister from the Mossel Bay executive mayor, Alderman Harry Levendal, after a recent investigation by the Garden Route District Municipality health department found that circumstances at the KwaNonqaba Police Station pose health risks to the officials.
Minister Fritz was accompanied on a comprehensive tour of the facilities by Mayor Levendal, the portfolio chairman for community safety, Councillor Anton Dellemijn and Mossel Bay Municipality executive manager: strategic services, Colin Puren.
The minister expressed concern about the impact on service delivery to the community due to the lack of detention facilities at the police station.
"This police station serves the largest geographical area with the densest population, yet is chronically under-resourced," Alderman Levendal said. The mayor explained to the minister that a sought-after and suitable piece of land had been made available to the police years ago.
"The community has the right to effective policing and a properly equipped police station," the mayor stressed.
Minister Fritz said he is determined to escalate the matter through positive, sustained liaison with the relevant national departments to ameliorate the situation. He said sustained lobbying had resulted in the SA National Defence Force having been deployed to crime hot spots in the Metropole. "We now find that the kingpins are moving their operations elsewhere."
Mossel Bay Municipality executive manager: strategic services, Colin Puren (centre), introduces Alderman Harry Levendal (second from left) and the Western Cape MEC for Community Safety, Minister Albert Fritz (left), to Sgt Rudi Swanepoel, an investigative officer. Photos: Nickey le Roux
Western Cape Community Safety MEC, Minister Albert Fritz, met the head of logistics at the KwaNonqaba police, Wo Dianne Oosthuizen at the administration office.
'We bring you the latest Mossel Bay, Garden Route news'
