Latest news with #Lesufi-led
IOL News
07-07-2025
- IOL News
Akasia police station's lack of holding cells raises serious crime concerns
The DA is concerned about the Akasia police station in Pretoria, which ranks among the top 40 stations with high serious crime rates, yet operates without a holding cell. Image: Bongani Shilubane/Independent Newspapers The Akasia police station in Pretoria, ranked among the top 40 stations with high serious crime rates, operates without a holding cell. This information came to light through Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi's written responses to parliamentary questions by Crezane Bosch, the DA's Gauteng shadow MEC for Community Safety. Bosch posed questions to inquire about the state of police stations in Gauteng, specifically asking about vacancies and plans to fill the posts. The 2024/2025 police crime statistics report shows that the Akasia police station is among the 40 stations with high rates of community-reported serious crimes, including sexual offences and attempted murder. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Bosch expressed concern that the high rate of serious crimes at the station should not be ignored, suggesting a potential link between the absence of holding cells and the station's effectiveness in reducing crime. She said: 'The DA has repeatedly urged the Premier Lesufi-led government to focus on the fundamentals of policing to effectively combat crime and ensure residents safety. Despite this, millions have been wasted on high-tech solutions including CCTV cameras and drones, while essential resources, such as police vehicles and holding cells are lacking.' She said a DA-led Gauteng provincial government would work within the legal framework to facilitate the upgrading and construction of holding cells through intergovernmental cooperation. 'This includes lobbying for the devolution of key policing powers to capable provinces, allowing them to manage and improve critical safety infrastructure. We would also engage SAPS and National Treasury to obtain the necessary approvals and formal agreements for co-funding and supporting infrastructure projects in key priority areas,' Bosch said. She noted that 24 of the 145 police stations in Gauteng lack holding cells, hindering their ability to effectively combat serious and violent crimes. 'The shortage leads to delays in detaining and processing suspects, which hampers investigations and allows criminal activity to persist. The deficiency also hinders police effectiveness, leaving our people vulnerable to crime,' she said. Lesufi's responses indicated that the maintenance of police stations, including the provision of holding cells, falls under the responsibility of the national Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. He disclosed that other police stations, including Mohlakeng and Cleveland, which are also among the top 40 in Gauteng for serious crimes, lack functional holding cells. Bosch said: 'It is concerning that a police station would lack a holding cell, forcing officers to travel long distances to detain suspects at other stations already experiencing overcrowding.' She expressed further concern that police stations without holding cells are disproportionately represented in the recent crime statistics for serious community-reported crimes, including murder, attempted murder, rape, and assault. Lesufi's responses to questions about vacant positions revealed that there are openings for detective service commanders following promotions of previous incumbents. Regarding plans to fill positions, he said: 'The vacancies will be addressed through the appointment/or promotion processes once the post allocation is received from the National Head Office. Critical and command vacancies will be prioritised. It remains unclear how many posts will be advertised due to the budgetary constraints on the compensation budget imposed by National Treasury."
The Citizen
19-06-2025
- The Citizen
Over 140 Pretoria police vehicles parked and out of service
Over 140 Pretoria police vehicles parked and out of service Pretoria's policing capacity has taken a significant knock, with 145 police vehicles currently out of service across the city. The alarming figures revealed in recent data highlight mounting pressure on already strained resources—sparking concerns over crime response times and public safety in key areas, including Mamelodi East, Pretoria Central, and Silverton. The information was revealed in a written reply by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to questions posed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. The DA has slammed the Lesufi-led administration for failing to prioritise public safety, warning that inoperative police vehicles are leaving communities vulnerable to crime. It was revealed that crime prevention efforts in Gauteng are being severely hampered by a shortage of operational police vehicles, with 710 out of 5,630 vehicles across the province currently out of service. This includes major shortages at stations like Ivory Park (16 out of 78 vehicles) and Pretoria Central (14 out of 80). Here is the complete list of the affected police stations in and around Pretoria: Area Amount of police vehicles in operation: Vehicles unserviceable Centurion – Laudium 20 0 Centurion – Lyttleton 54 9 Mabopane 38 5 Mamelodi 45 6 Mamelodi East 55 12 Pretoria Central 86 14 Rietfontein Pretoria 40 2 Pretoria North 55 4 Pretoria West 41 6 Soshanguve 60 8 Silverton 32 10 Sinoville 33 4 Soshanguve Block H 56 9 Sunnyside 57 8 Akasia 48 6 Atteridgeville 37 4 Hillcrest Pretoria 45 4 Eersterust 20 3 Pretoria West 22 2 Ga-Rankuwa 54 6 Garsfontein 33 4 Hammanskraal 32 7 Hercules 28 4 Villieria 29 1 Valhalla Centurion 38 4 Wonderboompoort 17 3 Total: 1075 145 Also read: Is there an outbreak of Staphylococcus in Pretoria? Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
Eyewitness News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Gauteng DA accuses provincial govt of failing to prioritise residents' safety
JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused the Gauteng government of failing to prioritise the safety of residents in the province, citing that there are more than 100 unfilled vacancies for mechanics within the provincial police department. The party believes this has contributed to delays in the repair of South African Police Service (SAPS) vehicles, which often leads to a shortage of crime-fighting resources. DA's Shadow MEC of Gauteng Community Safety said this undermines crime prevention efforts. "This is unacceptable and shows that the Lesufi-led government is not prioritising the protection of the people of Gauteng or addressing unemployment. Many crimes could have been prevented if these positions had been filled, helping police combat crime by ensuring that vehicles are readily available for policing.' Meanwhile, in response to DA's questions, Premier Panyaza Lesufi wrote that the posts can only be filled by applicants who have the required skills and qualifications.
The Citizen
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Saps vehicle repairs stall crime prevention in Gauteng, says DA
Lesufi confirmed that of the 372 mechanic positions across Saps garages in the province, only 262 are currently filled. A severe shortage of mechanics at Gauteng's South African Police Service (Saps) garages is hampering police visibility and crime prevention efforts across the province. According to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi's written response to the questions posed in the Provincial Legislature, 110 mechanic posts remain unfilled at Saps vehicle workshops. DA Gauteng shadow MEC for community safety, Crezane Bosch, said that the unfilled posts result in long delays in repairing police vehicles. 'Vehicles often remain in garages without repairs for up to a year, leading to shortages of vehicles at our police stations. 262 positions filled Lesufi said the legislature confirmed that of the 372 mechanic positions across Saps garages in the province, only 262 are currently filled. Bosch said this situation could have been avoided if the vacancies were filled and the garages properly staffed. 'This is unacceptable and shows that the Lesufi-led government is not prioritising the protection of the people of Gauteng or addressing unemployment.' Bosch said the impact of the shortage is being felt on the ground, where police stations are left with few or no operational vehicles. 'The lack of vehicles directly undermines crime-fighting efforts and increases risks for our residents,' she said. ALSO READ: Teacher shortage deprives Gauteng pupils of these vital tech skills Call for urgent intervention Additionally, the DA member noted that families could have been fed if these vacant posts had been advertised, giving qualified individuals the opportunity to apply. 'There is no justification for leaving essential positions unfilled, especially when thousands of qualified individuals are unemployed and desperate for work,' Bosch said. The party says a DA-led provincial government would have prioritised filling the vacancies, improving operational capacity and creating job opportunities. 'This approach would not only strengthen law enforcement but also create valuable job opportunities for qualified mechanics,' she added. Bosch further criticised the Lesufi administration for failing at 'the most basic tasks' while touting high-tech initiatives like intelligent number plates. 'The people of Gauteng need functioning police vehicles before they can trust futuristic security plans,' she said. NOW READ: City of Johannesburg councillor allegedly used municipality's BMW X3 for political activities in KZN, says DA
