Police Minister Bheki Chele has admitted that his department is experiencing a lack of services due to staff shortages. Chele was addressing police officers during the provincial launch of Operation Fetis in Bloemfontein.
Cele said there is a shortage of approximately 20,000 police officers since 2010.
More than 400 vehicles were procured to provide services in various departments of the Free State province.
The provincial police received 99 vehicles.
“Let me hasten to say that, unfortunately, there is a shortage of warm bodies in the South African police force. As I gave the numbers, for example, 20,000 police officers, looking at 2010. Although the president has given us some relief with the 10,000 that are in the college at the moment, but here we are just bringing the equipment, but it is coming to the police, we are not only talking about cars, not only IT, but we are working on it.” — says Chele.
The Free State provincial government says more than 400 vehicles, some specialized, will be distributed to various government departments as part of Operation Fetiza.
This is in response to questions that were raised by the people of the Free State during the Presidential Imbizo earlier this year. Prime Minister Sisi Ntambela says the aim of the operation is to provide quality services to communities.
“We will share them, but we have mobile clinics. We are going to use these mobile clinics in rural areas, especially on farms. We will make sure that rural areas where there are no ambulances should have ambulances, so we are going to start with them first,” says Ntombela.
