Instead of assisting community members to fight crime, a KwaZulu-Natal police station has been left abandoned and vandalised.
Case dockets and key DNA evidence are scattered on the premises, which have been turned into grazing land for livestock.
This is what Sunday World discovered when the publication visited the Mambuka police station in eNtambanana, outside the rural town of eMpangeni in northern KwaZulu-Natal, recently.
The visit came after the community members of the crime-ridden village complained about an increase in crime following the closure of the cop shop.
All this is happening while crime in the area has shot up.
A few years after its grand opening, which took place in September 2015, the police have abandoned the station.
New dawn in fight against crime
So big was the official opening of the facility that dignitaries such as the then national police commissioner, Riah Phiyega, and then police minister Nkosinathi Nhleko were in attendance.
Willies Mchunu, a former KwaZulu-Natal MEC for community safety and liaison, and other esteemed dignitaries joined them.
The station was hailed as a new dawn in the fight against crime such as stock theft, hijackings, murder, and domestic violence.
Its closure has raised eyebrows, and it is not clear what prompted the police to abandon it.
After the outcry from community members about a rise in crime, Sunday World went out to investigate.
To reach the village on eNtambanana, it takes about 60km of gravel road, which is the same distance it takes to find the next police station.
Impact of the cop shop
Phakami Mzobe, a member of the local crime-fighting structure, told Sunday World that the community was not informed about the reason behind the closure of the station.
“The police station was very important for this community because of the level of crime,” said Mzobe.
“It was constructed because of the high incidents of hijackings and murder, and for the three years it was in operation, crime was substantially reduced.
“We do not know why it was closed down. But we heard that the police officers who worked a rotational shift had received threats that criminals were intending to raid the station looking for guns.
“Because there was one officer working the night shift, he feared for his life. It wasn’t long before all police officers abandoned the station.”
He explained that there were three police vans assigned to the station, however, these vehicles have also disappeared without a trace.
At the mercy of thugs
“The community is suffering. I remember at one stage, there were two cases of rape reported at the station. There was no progress on them because dockets and crucial evidence were left unattended.
“Besides that, even for similar things such as the certification of documents and the signing of affidavits, we have to pay the R70 transport fare for a return trip to a nearby police station.
“The majority of people are poor, and they can’t afford that.”
Another resident, Simon Mthiyane, painted a picture of despair and fear, saying residents were at the mercy of brazen criminals.
“Hardened criminals used the area as their hideout and a conduit for stolen vehicles. There is also a known criminal gang that specialises in stealing government vehicles and targeting ambulances,” said Mthiyane.
“They convert these into passenger vehicles. This syndicate is also on the lookout for Sassa [SA Social Security Agency] and other state vehicles.”
Reserve police service
Local induna (herdman) Zibuse Mbonambi said the cries of the community for the revitalisation of the police station had fallen on deaf ears.
“Nobody wants to listen to us; maybe it’s because we’re rural people and our lives and safety don’t matter,” said Mbonambi.
“There’s no day that goes by without the sound of gunfire. The situation is bad.”
Sunday World also reported on how, despite launching the SAPS-backed royal reserve police service, it has not taken off the ground for years since it was launched.
King Zwelithini kaBhekuZulu, the late AmaZulu monarch, supported the initiative, which aimed to reduce crime in rural areas.
About 100 young people were trained and unleashed in the Nyokeni royal palace, where Police Minister Bheki Cele said they would be given guns and deployed in various villages to face criminals head-on.
The SA Police Service, both in the province and nationally, has yet to respond to Sunday World’s questions sent a month ago.
