Abandoned satellite police station leaves Dunoon community vulnerable

Irate Dunoon residents have called for a permanent police station after the satellite station was abandoned following its closure.

The DA's National Council of Provinces member on security and justice and Constituency Head for Atlantis, Blaauwberg and Table View, Nicholas Gotsell, said during a site visit in Killarney Gardens, where the mobile station was placed, that equipment and documentation left behind were accessible to criminals.

“While crime in Dunoon spirals out of control, the DA this week found the local SAPS satellite office completely unattended, unlocked, wide open, and vulnerable to looting or tampering with official documents and equipment. It’s a damning metaphor for the state of policing in the area,” said Gotsell.

“During an oversight visit to the mobile police station, parked near the clinic, the DA uncovered serious failures that explain why residents feel abandoned and unsafe. The so-called 'Dunoon satellite station' isn’t even located in Dunoon itself, but in neighbouring Killarney Gardens.

"It doesn’t appear on GPS systems, making it nearly impossible for residents to find.

“Community complaints were confirmed when we arrived at the site in broad daylight to find the station deserted, with no officers present.

“The unit's entrance is unsafe, lacking handrails and there is no provision for disabled access, effectively excluding vulnerable community members.

“During the visit, a formal letter to the Western Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General. Thembisile Patekile, was handed to the MEC for Community Safety and Police Oversight, Anroux Marais.”

Kurt Nefdt, Marais's spokesperson, said the MEC was aware of the incident and issues highlighted by Gotsell. 

"The letter will be forwarded to the Provincial Commissioner and the issues raised in the letter will form part of discussions between the MEC and PC to improve service delivery to the affected community.”

Community activist, Thembelani Ndabezimi, told the Cape Argus they have been calling for a permanent police station for years and that the satellite station had been moved to Killarney.

“When we first saw that mobile police station, it was situated at Dunoon taxi rank, we were happy that at least something is being done," he said.

“We have been demanding a permanent police station.

“We were shocked one day we woke up and the mobile police station wasn't there. We were told that it was moved to Killarney because police feared for their lives as there was a taxi strike at the time. 

“It also shocked us that the police feared a taxi strike because we rely on them for safety. The police were then moving up and down between Killarney and the taxi rank until it permanently remained in Killarney.

"It then became useless and people would pass it and go to Table View or Milnerton police station because at Killarney it was always closed or not there, you were lucky if you found it open and operating.

"Dunoon needs a permanent police station because crime in the area is getting out of hand. E-hailing drivers are now scared to pick up requests from and to Dunoon. It was better when we had that mobile police station located at the taxi rank because they felt safer."

Another community representative, Nosiyabo Nga, said they hosted several meetings calling for a permanent police station.

“A week ago, the community and the councillor had meetings because we want a mobile or permanent police station,” said Nga.

“There is a lot of crime here.”

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Cape Argus