Woensdag, 3 Junie 2015
NEWS
TYGERBURGER Kraaifontein 3
Police stations not in the dark DESIRÉE RORKE @dezzierorke
R
esidents in Oostenberg can rest assured that local police stations are not left in the dark when Eskom implements load shedding. Both the Brackenfell and Kraaifontein police stations this week confirmed they are not among the 41 police stations in the Western Cape that do not have electricity generators. Spokespersons from both the above-mentioned stations say they are fully operational during load shedding hours and their generators are sufficient to keep lights, telephones and computers running. In reply to a parliamentary question in the National Assembly by DA shadow minister of police Dianne Kohler Barnard last week, it was revealed the Western Cape police have the largest shortage of electricity generators in the country.
In the dark “Just under one third of police stations in the Western Cape do not have generators,” said Mireille Wenger, DA spokesperson on community safety in the Western
a policing point of view is that my areas are shrouded in darkness,” said van Niekerk.
Cape. Wenger said 197 police stations in South Africa have not got generators, of which 41 are in the Western Cape. “Our province has the highest number of stations without generation capacity. Forty one out of the 150 fully fledged police stations in our province do not have electricity generators, which is almost one out of every three stations,” she said. She claims police stations in the province may be unable to function adequately during load shedding, which has become a regular occurrence. “The latest strategic plan of the South African Police Service notes the Western Cape is due to receive 22 generators, however, this is woefully insufficient as this will only provide half of the stations that need generators with the required equipment.” Mireille said the public in the province had already raised their concerns about police stations’ telephones not working during load shedding. Kraaifontein station commander Brigadier Gerda van Niekerk said although load shedding has not affected their functionality or patrols, it has taken its toll on officers. “My frustration with load shedding from
Twice as alert While patrols continue unabated, van Niekerk says policemen are very strained during this time. “They have to be twice as alert while patrolling in the constant darkness, as is the case when streetlights and residential lights are off. They have to concentrate twice as hard and constantly keep a look out in all directions. This definitely takes a toll on them,” she says. Although effective street lighting is one of the best crime prevention tactics, crime levels have remained constant in Kraaifontein. “With the constant load shedding, crime was expected to increase, but thus far it hasn’t happened in Kraaifontein,” she said. Brackenfell police spokesperson Erica Crous says it is difficult to speculate over wether crime has increased due to load shedding in Brackenfell. “Realistically, we would have to specifically monitor crime trends during load shedding hours to determine exactly how it affects crime,” she said.
Headliners: WP Media hosted their annual All Stars awards event in recognition of the hard work of their advertising, editorial and classifieds personnel, at Die Boer Theatre in Durbanville on 28 May. From left are Michelle Poggenpoel (WP Media Ad Rep of the Year), Garth Hewitt (WP Media Ads Manager), Silvana Hendricks (Joint 3rd: Ad Rep of the Year), Marita Meyer (WP Media Group Editor), Michelle Linnert (WP Media Journalist of the Year), Monique Duval (Runnerup: WP Media Journalist of the Year), Barrie de Beer (General Manager: News South), Desiree Rorke (WP Media Web Journalist of the Year), Wendy Aanhuizen (Runnerup: Ad Rep of the Year), Mariette de Bruyn (Joint 3rd: Ad Rep of the Year). PHOTO: MAGRIET THERON
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