Frustrated residents are demanding the removal of the current management of Maitland Police Station amid claims of poor service delivery at the station.
Armed with placards, disgruntled residents recently took to the streets to demand improved service from the station.
“Serve and protect, not neglect”, “Where were you when we called?” and “Clean up Maitland SAPS”, read some of the posters.
The march was led by Ward 56 councillor Cheslyn Steenberg and the Maitland Ratepayers and Residents Association (MRRA). They handed a memorandum of their grievances to a representative of the provincial police.
The incensed residents also appealed for the redeployment of additional police officers and the return of the former station commander to help “restore integrity and effective policing.”
Graham Daniels, MRRA safety and security spokesperson, explained that residents had consistently expressed anger over officers’ failure to respond timely to emergency calls.
“This delay often places lives and property at risk. Maitland police frequently operate with only one vehicle, and on some days no vehicle at all due to staff booking off sick or are unavailable on shifts. Residents are often told they cannot open cases or are treated with disrespect.”
Daniels said there’s no “internal oversight or consequence for poor performance.
“Security personnel caught two suspects attempting to break into a complex in Maitland. When they brought the suspects to Maitland police, they found the station locked, and no officers available to assist or process the arrest,” he claimed.
Daniels also alleged that police responded to a house break-in complaint six hours after the incident was reported.
He said residents are demanding:
. The immediate removal of ineffective management and underperforming officers;
.The return of trusted leadership, especially Col Solomons and Captain van der Heever;
.Reimplementation of sector policing with proper structure and oversight;
.Visible policing and the deployment of an active crime prevention unit;
.Real accountability mechanisms, where community members can report misconduct without fear or dismissal;
. A written action plan from the provincial police within 14 days, detailing specific corrective measures and timelines.
Steenberg said community leaders in the ward had met with police management previously to address these challenges, but their complaints fell on deaf ears.
“We engaged with the police management last year and we were told the issues would be addressed. But they never were, and things just became worse,” elaborated Steenberg.
He said they gave provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Col Thembisile Patekile, 14 days to respond.
Steenberg warned that leaders would proceed with legal action should the deadline not be met.
“We have already employed an advocate to take our matter to court and force the police to remove the management. I want to thank the residents for their support. It once again shows we are serious about our safety and are taking our responsibility as citizens seriously,” he concluded.
Anroux Marais, Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, said she was made aware of complaints in November last year and added that she visited the station at the time.
“After my visit I discussed the situation with Lt-Gen Patekile and requested his intervention. It was, however, recently brought to my attention that the community of Maitland was still complaining about poor service delivery from their local police station as well as the poor conditions of the building itself.”
She added that service delivery complaints were referred to the Police Inspectorate for Investigation, and appropriate action would follow based on the “findings and outcomes” of those investigations.
“My office is also in the process of arranging a meeting between the community of Maitland and police management, where all concerns and complaints can be voiced in order to find solutions to these persistent service delivery problems and improve the quality of policing at the precinct.”
According to Marais, her department determines the policing needs and priorities of the province and engages the South African Police Service on addressing identified priorities annually.
“I also personally conduct unannounced visits to police stations to monitor service delivery. Any concerns stemming from my visits are then directly communicated to Lt-Gen Patekile for intervention.”
Asked how her department planned to improve community trust and cooperation with the police, Marais said they establish partnerships with community organisations and “strengthen community policing forums (CPFs) in our efforts in promoting healthy relationships” between the police and communities.
“When there is a disconnect between a specific community and the police our department facilitates dialogue and encourages cooperation between the police and citizens.”
Mluleki Mbhele, Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) provincial secretary, said the union was not aware of the challenges faced at the station and added that they needed time to “establish the facts” and to “engage the police’s management”.
“However, as Popcru we are concerned about issues of service delivery not only on isolated incidents, but across the province. Members can only do so much, but with the shortage of manpower and inadequate resources, dilapidated infrastructure makes it very difficult for members to adequately provide services to the communities,” he explained.
Mbhele said with many vacant posts within the police service “members are overworked”.
“The government is constantly imposing austerity measures making it very difficult for departments to operate optimally.
The morale of the members is at its lowest due to no promotions and upward mobility. Members are stuck in one rank for more than 10 years without any promotions.”
People’s Post reached out to the office of the provincial police commissioner but the paper did not receive a response as yet.
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