Note to Editors: Please find an English soundbite by Michael Waters MPL here
Please find a pictures of the picket here, and a video here
Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng East officially launched a petition to urge parliamentary intervention into Ekurhuleni’s crime crisis. The petition was made public outside the Primrose Police station, which has the highest murder rate in the metro with a horrific 127 murders per 100 000 residents.
Primrose itself holds an average murder rate three times the average murder rate in Ekurhuleni. With a population of 87 743 residents, this community is serviced by a mere 94 Police Officers and 10 support staff. This station is woefully under resourced. It should come as no surprise that 1638 murders were committed in the City last year.
To put it into perspective, that is one police officer for every 933 residents.
Former Police Minister, Bheki Cele, stated that the United Nations recommends a police-to-population ratio of one officer for every 220 people. He noted that South Africa’s ratio was approximately one officer for every 383 citizens. He could not be further from the truth with regards to the Primrose Police station.
If the ratio of 220 residents for one police officer were a reality, the Primrose police station would have 399 police officers.
It is no wonder the residents of Primrose have been left defenceless against murderers with a staff shortfall of 76%.
As horrifying as the murder rate is in Primrose, the issue is similarly bleak across the metro:
- Primrose – 127
- Germiston – 120
- Crystal Park – 86
- Reiger Park – 83
- Putfontein – 65
- Zonkiziswe – 62
- Tembisa South – 61
- Tokoza – 59
- Dawn Park 57
- Actonville – 56
The DA’s petition will be taken to Parliament requesting that the Portfolio Committee on Police investigate the horrendous murder rate and the chronic lack of police officers and vehicles in the City.