Question NW2486 to the Minister of Police
06 July 2015 - NW2486
Mbhele, Mr ZN to ask the Minister of Police
What (a) has been the adverse impact of Eskom’s loadshedding on the functioning of police stations and the ability of the SA Police Service (SAPS) to perform its duties and (b) strategies has the SAPS implemented to mitigate this impact?
Reply:
(a) Load shedding has an adverse effect on service delivery in the SAPS. It has an impact on all communication and network operations, including the registering of case dockets, circulation of firearms and vehicles. A number of stations cannot function at night because there are no lights, especially in the cells when there are detainees, which is a huge security risk.
(b) Not all 1140 fully fledged police stations have generators. Of the 1 140 police stations, 197 do not have generators. Of the 197 police stations, 184 police stations are non-devolved police stations, which is the responsibility of DPW and 13 are devolved, which is SAPS’ responsibility.
The National Department of Public Works has been requested to register projects for the provisioning of generators at the non-devolved police stations. Funding has been made available for this purpose for the 2015/ 2016 financial year.
All devolved police stations without generators will be provided with a generator by the end of the current financial year.
The SAPS also invests in renewable green energy and includes solar perimeter lighting in all renewal and new generator and electrical maintenance contracts.
Five (5) devolved police stations in the Eastern Cape are fully dependent on solar power; namely Afsondering, Katkop, Lukholweni, Mbizeni and Zamuxolo.
The SAPS is in the process of putting out a tender for the procurement of mobile backup generators to be distributed by the Provinces as and where the need arises.