A shortage of 110 mechanic vacancies at the Gauteng South African Police Service (SAPS) garages is causing delays in the repair of police vehicles, resulting in a lack of essential vehicles needed for effective crime prevention and police visibility. This undermines crime prevention efforts and increases risks for residents in a province already plagued by crime.
This information was revealed by Premier Panyaza Lesufi, in a written reply to the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL). According to the Premier, SAPS garages in the province have a staff complement of 262 mechanics and 110 unfilled vacancies.
See full reply here.
Vehicles often remain in garages without repairs for up to a year, leading to shortages of vehicles at our police stations. 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. 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. Additionally, families could have been fed if these vacant posts had been advertised, giving qualified individuals the opportunity to apply.
The DA demands Premier Lesufi to engage his national counterpart, Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu and the Gauteng Provincial SAPS Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, to prioritise filling these vacancies. There is no justification for leaving essential positions unfilled, especially in a province which has been declared the epicentre of crime. Furthermore, there is no reason why posts cannot be filled when many of our people are unemployed and have little hope for change.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would have prioritised filling the vacant positions within the SAPS garages to enhance the operational effectiveness of the SAPS in responding to the safety needs of our communities. This approach would not only strengthen law enforcement but also create valuable job opportunities for qualified mechanics.
The DA remains committed to holding the incompetent Lesufi-led government accountable, as it continues to fail at the most basic tasks while expecting the people of Gauteng to trust it to deliver sophisticated security measures, like the recently launched intelligent number plates designed to combat theft.