The South African Police Service (SAPS) will be rolling out 15 mobile police stations to far flung townships and rural areas around the country, with six of them to be deployed in Western Cape Province, says Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko.

Making the announcement when he handed over a mobile police station to residents of the Khayelitsha informal township here at an imbizo (gathering) on Friday, he said: “We understand the demand for more police in the rural towns and townships, but due to resource constraints to respond to these demands effectively, rolling out mobile units is the best solution at the moment.

“We need to combine efforts in taking down gangsterism in the Western Cape. Safety cannot only be brought by the police; more departments are involved in ensuring safety in our communities.”

The Minister said issues like street lighting, adequate roads and town planning, which would make it easier for police officers to patrol communities, were functions which came under other departments.

Ndithini Tyhido, the chairperson of the Khayelitsha Development Forum, agreed that adequate infrastructure such as proper house addresses and lighting would improve the effectiveness of policing in the area.

He said crime in Khayelitsha was rife but added that the new mobile police station meant that residents would be able to access police services much faster.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK