The department conducted inspections at several police stations on Tuesday (14/4), including Itsoseng, which services eight villages, a township, and five farms. The furthest point under its jurisdiction lies 47km away.

The visit focused on monitoring quality control measures, operational capacity, and performance at hotspot police stations. These include stations listed among the national top 30, as well as those flagged at a provincial level as struggling to effectively address crime challenges, said acting provincial head Molefi Morule.

Crime in the province remains complex and requires a coordinated response, he added. “The province continues to face complex and multi-dimensional crime challenges, driven by socio-economic conditions as well as organised criminal activity, with the main drivers of priority crimes being unemployment, alcohol and substance consumption, and firearms in most cases.”

Collaboration beyond traditional law enforcement structures is essential, he added. “The department, as an oversight body over the police, has already made progress in the implementation of the integrated crime and violence prevention strategy. We have identified a need to include others outside of the cluster to realise meaningful change that will impact the lives of those we serve,” he said.

According to the director general for the civilian secretariat for police, Thulani Sibuyi, the visit revealed significant operational challenges. It provided critical insight into operational challenges, service delivery gaps, and areas requiring urgent intervention.

The findings will guide targeted support and ensure that police stations are better equipped to respond effectively to the needs of communities and to combat crime more efficiently.

Community safety and transport management MEC Wessels Morweng had previously raised concerns about ongoing issues at Itsoseng. “Service delivery in the areas has been severely affected. The level of crime must be contained. However, to do that, we must increase the capacity of the police station.

“Some areas that we have identified have been dealt with as a form of intervention, but to deal with some troublesome elements and ensure sustainability in the solutions that are required, I will be engaging with the province to see how best to assist the station.”

OFM News previously reported on the deteriorating condition of several North West police stations, including Bethanie, where holding cells are in disrepair and affected by water leakages from the roof. 

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm

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