Crime-fighting at the Midrand Police Station is being hindered by resource challenges, such as a shortage of police vehicles, limited parking, and heavy workloads on detectives, who juggle too many dockets to provide optimal service to residents. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands swift intervention by Premier Panyaza Lesufi and his national counterpart, Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia, in ensuring a fleet upgrade, case load management, and improvement of public-facing facilities, such as parking, at these police stations.
Midrand SAPS’s resource challenges came to light during a recent oversight inspection by the DA aimed at evaluating operational capacity, identifying key challenges, and exploring collaborative solutions to enhance community safety in the area. The inspection formed part of the DA’s Anti-Crime campaign, focused on assessing identified problematic police stations in Gauteng.
Like many police stations we have visited, this one is staffed by committed officers who feel disillusioned by the system. With a Brigadier in charge, the station has 160 visible officers who must share limited space at the facility. This is particularly noticeable at the congested front charge desk, where members of the public often must wait for extended periods.
Premier Lesufi must act urgently to address these deficiencies that are demoralising these officers and, in turn, putting the lives of our people at risk. Police cannot chase criminals without vehicles. They cannot thoroughly investigate cases when they are overburdened. The members of the public should not have to park 100 meters away from the police station due to a lack of space, as this may discourage the elderly, disabled individuals, or those with serious injuries from filing reports, especially in emergencies.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would urgently upgrade the Midrand SAPS fleet, enhance public-facing facilities at the station, including parking and accessibility, improve case load management, and encourage investment in smart policing tools, such as CCTV coverage in crime hotspots.
The DA remains unwavering in its commitment to securing safer communities and better policing across Gauteng. We will continue to work closely with the SAPS, Community Policy Forum (CPF), and residents to create a safe environment for people and businesses in Midrand.