KWANONQABA NEWS - When visiting the KwaNonqaba Police Station, the Community Service Centre (CSC) is the first place members of the public will encounter.
"It's the heart of the station," says the spokesperson, Warrant Officer Kappie Kapp.
A small building located at the front of the station, the CSC is where case dockets are opened, statements are taken, sworn affidavits are recorded, documents are certified, complaints are laid and general enquiries are made.
Kapp told Mossel Bay Advertiser the members of the KwaNonqaba Police who are stationed at the CSC deal with a busy environment on a daily basis, juggling multiple tasks as well as an influx of people, each with different needs, who often wait in a lengthy queue to be seen.
The CSC is also where victims of gender-based violence are received and met by the station's victim empowerment services.
However, there is little to no privacy in which statements can be taken one-on-one, as the building is not equipped with cubicles.
"It's tough and time-consuming. We serve a very diverse community, but we serve with pride with the resources at our disposal," said Kapp.
He explained that everything reported at the CSC not only needs to be recorded, but also allocated to the relevant station members, including the detectives.
The Advertiser previously reported that KwaNonqaba's detectives have up to 300 case dockets each. New cases, first received by the CSC, arise each day and add to the growing pile.
"We encourage the community to report crimes, and our detectives are working hard to investigate cases to satisfy our community," says Kapp.
Nolitha Mpambani, a data capturer in the CSC, told the Advertiser having to manage the workload is incredibly challenging.
She says on the rare days when she is not too busy with her own work, she helps with the other tasks with which her colleagues are dealing.
Kapp says though the demand is immense and continuously growing, it does not deter the officials from wanting to assist the public as best they can.
And with the help of the volunteers, the workload becomes somewhat lighter and the pressure is alleviated.
The station prides itself on being able to communicate in the multiple languages and vernacular found in the KwaNonqaba community, which helps to fully understand the people who are served by the police.
"Despite its challenges, the CSC should not be seen as a place members of the community are unable to visit when they need help," says Kapp.
Nolitha Mpambani, a data capturer in the KwaNonqaba Police Station’s CSC. Photo: Gabriélla Siebritz
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