The Democratic Alliance (DA) found the Katlehong and Zonkizizwe Police Stations in Ekurhuleni in tatters during an oversight visit to the stations.
At Zonkizizwe Police Station, the team discovered that the station has no access to water during the day, making it nearly impossible for officers to function effectively or to provide basic support to victims, detainees, and staff. A police station without water cannot be expected to serve the community.
In the spirit of getting police stations in the area capacitated to handle the problems they face, the DA has launched a petition urging parliamentary intervention in the crisis the community, and Ekurhuleni at large faces.
The areas these police stations serve are further riddled with issues, making the police’s work even more difficult – from non-functional streetlights, which create cover for criminal activity, to crumbling roads and potholes, which delay police response times and endanger officers on duty, these areas face a daily struggle. Most shockingly, however, is the fact that Katlehong Police Station faces an 82% staff shortfall, when compared with the recommended police officer to resident ration of 1 police officer for every 220 residents.
Of great concern is the shockingly high murder rate in Zonkizizwe, which stands at 62 per 100,000 people — far above the national average and indicative of a deeply unsafe environment. Both stations also reported that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is one of the most frequent and devastating crimes, often linked to alcohol abuse in communities living in deep poverty.
The root cause of many of these challenges — crime, GBV, substance abuse, and infrastructure collapse — is poverty. The DA believes that only through economic growth, job creation, and functioning local government can communities like Katlehong begin to break the cycle.
We will take a three-pronged approach to this issue:
- We will raise the plight of the Katlehong and Zonkizizwe Police stations in parliament;
- Ensure that the issues of the surrounding areas, and infrastructure issues are raised in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature for urgent attention; and
- Demand that the City of Ekurhuleni address the service delivery issues impacting policing and the safety of the community.
The DA remains committed to building safe, prosperous communities where residents can live with dignity — and where Katlehong can finally become what its name promises: “The Place of Success.”