- KwaZakhele Police Station has been without electricity for days.
- Municipal infrastructure challenges across the policing district also hamper policing efforts.
- This lack of lighting undermines crime-fighting efforts.
The Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Municipality’s failure to keep the lights on and deliver basic services is directly hampering the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) ability to combat crime and fulfil its duties across the Metro.
Yesterday, I conducted an oversight inspection at the KwaZakhele Police Station in Gqeberha with DA NMB Spokesperson for Safety and Security, Cllr Jason Grobbelaar, and DA Cllr Mthokozisi Nkosi. We found the station without electricity due to cable theft. This is particularly alarming given that, according to the latest crime statistics, KwaZakhele recorded the highest number of murders of any police station in South Africa.
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The station has been without electricity for days. Despite a generator being used, it does not run continuously, making it difficult for officers and staff to work effectively in the dark.
Municipal infrastructure challenges across the policing district also hamper policing efforts. These include non-functioning streetlights, vandalism, poor road conditions, illegally parked vehicles obstructing narrow roads, and flooding that renders certain routes inaccessible. All of these factors delay response times to incidents.
Officers emphasised the impact of non-functioning streetlights on crime prevention. They highlighted that poor lighting makes it more difficult to pursue suspects, conduct inspections, and maintain visibility in high-crime areas. This lack of lighting undermines crime-fighting efforts.
The ANC/EFF-led coalition of chaos is putting the lives of Nelson Mandela Bay residents at risk.
The collapse of municipal services and infrastructure under this government is not separate from the fight against crime. When streetlights are broken, roads are left to crumble, public spaces are neglected, and bylaw enforcement is weak, criminals are given more room to operate and residents are left more exposed.
The absence of operational ShotSpotter gunfire detection technology and CCTV infrastructure in the Metro was also raised as a significant concern. Officers stressed the need for greater surveillance capabilities to support investigations and crime prevention efforts.
When the DA takes over government after the Local Government Elections on 4 November, we will implement a safety plan that will assist SAPS in fulfilling its duties.
This plan includes:
- Expanding the Metro police to over 500 officers and more than 60 vehicles across the city to provide 24/7 coverage for every ward.
- Establishing a CCTV network to detect and deter crime.
- Re-establishing the CCTV joint operations centre so that the SAPS, Metro police, and private security companies can respond to crime in real time.
- Implementing ShotSpotter gun-detection technology, and partnering with Neighbourhood Watches and equipping them to assist the SAPS.
A DA government will not allow communities such as KwaZakhele to be left at the mercy of criminals. We will build a safe city and assist law enforcement agencies to catch criminals, convict criminals, clean up our Metro and get Nelson Mandela Bay working again.