The 490 unfilled detective positions and 323 internal vacant posts within the Gauteng Department of Community Safety are hindering cases from being solved and endangering the safety of Gauteng residents.
According to the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, Gauteng has 490 detectives vacancies.
Furthermore, according to the Gauteng Department of Community Safety’s First Quarterly Report for the 2024/25 financial year, the department has a vacancy rate of 16.1%, which translates to 323 vacant posts. The same report also reveals that the department had six terminations and one suspension during the first quarter.
Failure to fill vacant detective posts and internal vacancies is shocking in a province where crime rates are constantly on the rise, making our people feel unsafe as well as discouraging both investors and prospective residents.
It is widely known that a shortage of detectives leads to poorly investigated cases and a lack of regular updates for complainants. This, in turn, discourages people from reporting cases to the police.
Two of our cities, Pretoria and Johannesburg, rank second and fifth, respectively, among the top five most dangerous cities in the world, according to the Numbeo’s Crime Index by City 2024 Mid-Year report.
What further evidence is needed to understand the necessity of having an adequate number of detectives to investigate these cases and deliver justice to the people of Gauteng? What needs to occur for the approved positions at the Department of Community Safety, which now falls under the Premier’s office, to be filled by competent individuals who will offer the support required to keep our province safe?
Premier Panyaza Lesufi has on numerous occasions stated that combating crime is a top priority for his government, but how can you arrest and convict criminals if you don’t have the necessary workforce?
The DA is committed to creating safer communities in Gauteng. Unlike the government of the day, our plan for fighting crime is not focused on high-level technology but on getting the basics right: having enough police stations, police officers, and detectives to investigate crimes and bring offenders to justice.
Equally, in its quest to seriously fight crime, a DA government would appoint a specific MEC solely dedicated to community safety and crime prevention in Gauteng. The MEC would be given the responsibility to fill all vacant posts to ensure that there are adequate resources to fight and prevent crime.