The South African Police Service (SAPS) only has 47 897 vehicles (including vans, minibuses, SUVs, buses, trailers and trucks) in its fleet.
More than R16 billion of taxpayer’s money has been spent on buying vehicles for law enforcement, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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This was revealed during a parliamentary Q&A held on 2 August.
In response to the question, ‘What is the (a) fleet complement of all vehicles procured by the SA Police Service and (b) estimated monetary value of the specified vehicles?’, Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu revealed that the total estimated monetary value of the specified vehicles is R16 356 121 734.00.
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Last year, former Police Minister Beki Cele reportedly said an average of 21% of all SAPS vehicles were non-operational.
KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the Northern Cape were the most affected at the time, TopAuto reports, noting that more than 26% of SAPS vehicles in these provinces were non-operational.
‘This shortage of vehicles also has serious consequences for victims of crime, as law enforcement is unable to react to incidents or to race to the aid of victims,’ said Solidarity Research Institute’s Theuns du Buisson.
‘These figures emphasize the contempt the government and police have towards their (…) officials, and by implication, also for the citizens of the country as defenceless victims of crime.’
In 2022, Solidarity released a report which revealed an incriminating look at the decline of the SAPS’ detective services as well. ‘There is no internet, no email communication, no telephones, no stationery, no printers, no ink, no vehicles, no assistance, no fingerprint powder, no brooms, no mops and no toilet paper.
‘Those are the conditions under which detectives in the South African Police Service have to work.’
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Picture: South African Police Service