Maitland SAPS station faces backlash for 'locking gates at night'

Complaints against the Maitland SAPS station, including locked station gates at night, a lack of available vans and poor service delivery, have been escalated to Provincial Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile.

Residents, Maitland Ratepayers and Residents Association (MRRA), said they have lost faith in management at the police station and are advocating for the return of former high ranking police officers.

The newly elected Maitland Community Policing Forum (CPF) said while they acknowledge the shortage of staff, they refuted the claims of inaction, citing new leadership and ongoing efforts.

Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais confirmed a site visit to the station following complaints and that it was now reported to Patekile.

In April, the dilapidating state of police infrastructure was flung into the spotlight when the Portfolio Committee on Police carried out several visits to police stations across the country including the Western Cape, where it came to light that Belhar officers were reportedly forced to share toilets with criminals.

Irate Maitland residents told the Cape Argus that often the gates of the police station were closed at night and that complaints were conducted from behind the fence.

In two cases, they said knife and sjambok wielding robbers threatened harm at a residence during which security guards jumped into action due to a shortage of SAPS vans and staff, while domestic violence cases also suffered.

A resident who asked not to be identified explained what transpired: “Our security inspector came from the control room and personally went to Maitland SAPS twice to report the incident  (attempted robbery) and request a van to be sent. On both occasions he spoke to the officer through the security gate because Maitland SAPS 'lock up shop' at night. He was told that they don't have a van. The second time he was given a cellphone number to call. It is a sector van mobile number.”

Faiek Fredericks, ratepayers association chairperson, said the police station lacked resources and staffing was dire.

“MRRA (Maitland Ratepayers and Residents Association) is very disappointed in the service levels that have been received from the Maitland SAPS, and this has been going on for a long time,” he said.

“Maitland saps does not have sector commanders any more. 

"Vispol policing is almost non-existent. The constant excuses that they do not have staff and vans is a sickening excuse the community gets told for years.  

“Maitland cells have to house criminals from Kensington and Pinelands because Kensington cells have been inoperative for the past three years and Pinelands police station does not have cells. 

“The CPF is disconnected from the community.”

Johan van Rensburg, Maitland CPF chairperson, said they were aware of the lack of staffing issues and did not receive any other complaints raised by residents.

“At no stage was this specific issue raised with Maitland CPF," he said.

“CPF is acutely aware of the shortage of staff at the station and is constantly addressing this matter to  have more resources allocated. It is not something that will be resolved overnight.

“Maitland CPF does regular joint patrols in partnership with the registered neighborhood watch and part and this is visiting the station at night. We have not encountered a situation where the station was locked, but implore members of the public to inform should they encounter this situation for us to take it up with the station commander.

“We are a newly elected CPF that is six months old and are proud of what we have achieved."

Marais said she would be conducting another site visit at the station soon following complaints.

“Some service delivery issues at Maitland SAPS, especially complaints about understaffing and slow response times, were brought to my attention in the recent past. I immediately visited Maitland SAPS on an oversight visit and identified some issues at the precinct which contribute to service delivery constraints. I personally brought these issues to the attention of Lieutenant General Patekile for his intervention. I will schedule another oversight visit to Maitland police station and request an update from General Patekile regarding interventions to improve service delivery to the residents in the Maitland precinct.”

Police spokesperson, Joseph Swartbooi, said residents' complaints had reached the attention of the station commander following a query by the Cape Argus.

”A disciplinary file has been opened for further investigation.”

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Cape Argus