Action Society (AS) accused the provincial police force of relying on an outdated radio system, originally issued in the 1980s, to which the Western Cape SAPS admitted to experiencing challenges with its radio communications system, often resulting in officers using their own devices.
As per Cape Argus, Ian Cameron, the director of community safety at AS, said that the SAPS communication system is on the brink of collapse. He said that key units within SAPS, such as the anti-gang units and the Flying Squad, are particularly vulnerable if not supplied with inadequate communication tools.
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According to Cameron, authorities in Gauteng received new trunking radios for the Tetra system in 2009; however, the Western Cape has been left behind, with its police force operating with severely outdated equipment.
The return of loadshedding has exacerbated the situation, especially in areas with poor cellphone signals like Khayelitsha. During loadshedding, the absence of cell tower functionality plunges communications into darkness, leaving officers in high-risk situations without a means to call for assistance.
An anonymous police officer confirmed the challenges posed by the failing communication system, revealing that they often have to rely on their personal cell phones and data. The officer expressed frustration over the repeated, unaddressed complaints about this issue and the apparent apathy from the management.
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‘It’s an issue that we have been raising for years, and it gets exhausting to repeat the same things over and over again. Management is aware of this, and they seem to not care. For example, if we are chasing a suspect, we can’t alert another police member nearby to inform them to look out for a certain car with this registration, and so on. Members can’t express themselves freely, as sometimes we fear being victimised by our commanders. This challenge has impacted many of us from doing our jobs,’ the officer said.
JP Smith, the City’s Mayco member for safety and security, acknowledged the seriousness of this problem. He indicated the City’s willingness to assist the police force by offering access to their functional radio channels and communication systems.
‘We know of this challenge, and it is a serious problem in the City, and we have offered to assist in any possible way where we can, as our radio channels and communication system are working perfectly fine. Our doors are open to assist where we can,’ said Smith.
Cape Argus reported that efforts to obtain a response from the SAPS were initially met with redirection and delays. After weeks of inquiries, Bheki Cele’s spokesperson eventually responded, stating that the issue was receiving urgent attention from police management. However, details of the intervention remain undisclosed to the public at this stage.
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