Police are a hazard on the
roads, report shows
File picture: Jeffrey Abrahams / Independent Media.
Cape Town - Western Cape police are
crashing an average of more than three vehicles a day; a total of 1309 crashes
involving police vehicles were recorded during the 2016/17 financial year,
while 32 police officers were disciplined for the misuse of police
vehicles.
The Western Cape police’s annual report, presented
in the Western Cape Legislature shows the number of collisions where police
vehicles were involved in accidents was 347 for the first quarter of
the 2016/17 financial year, 322 in the second quarter, third quarter
313 and the fourth quarter 327.
Brigadier Preston Voskuil, who presented the annual
report, said the province had established vehicle risk committees at all police
stations that monitored alleged misuse and abuse of official police vehicles.
“During the reported period," he said,
"46 members had their authorities to drive official vehicles suspended.
During the same period, disciplinary steps were instituted against 32 members
for misuse and or abuse of police vehicles.”
R110 million spent on new vehicles
The province received an annual budget of just more
than R110 million for the purchasing of new vehicles. In total, 419 vehicles
were purchased, mostly bakkies. Police also purchased three Nyala riot
compartment trucks. However, several Nyalas are at a service centre in
Blackheath; police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Traut said they were in
for routine maintenance.
”The management of the police will not allow
defective vehicles or scheduled maintenance to hamper service delivery,"
he said. "If a vehicle is withdrawn from service, alternative measures are
immediately instituted."
Out of 6782 vehicles, 6213 are active vehicles, 336
are trailers, 190 motorcycles, 33 boats and 10 machinery.
Cape Argus
