Cape Town - Western Cape police are crashing an average of more than three vehicles a day; a total of 1309 crashes involving police vehicles were recorded during the 2016/17 financial year, while 32 police officers were disciplined for the misuse of police vehicles.
The Western Cape police’s annual report, presented in the Western Cape Legislature shows the number of collisions where police vehicles were involved in accidents was 347 for the first quarter of the 2016/17 financial year, 322 in the second quarter, third quarter 313 and the fourth quarter 327.
Brigadier Preston Voskuil, who presented the annual report, said the province had established vehicle risk committees at all police stations that monitored alleged misuse and abuse of official police vehicles.
“During the reported period," he said, "46 members had their authorities to drive official vehicles suspended. During the same period, disciplinary steps were instituted against 32 members for misuse and or abuse of police vehicles.”
R110 million spent on new vehicles
The province received an annual budget of just more than R110 million for the purchasing of new vehicles. In total, 419 vehicles were purchased, mostly bakkies. Police also purchased three Nyala riot compartment trucks. However, several Nyalas are at a service centre in Blackheath; police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Traut said they were in for routine maintenance.
”The management of the police will not allow defective vehicles or scheduled maintenance to hamper service delivery," he said. "If a vehicle is withdrawn from service, alternative measures are immediately instituted."
Out of 6782 vehicles, 6213 are active vehicles, 336 are trailers, 190 motorcycles, 33 boats and 10 machinery.