Cops with Empty Holsters: Critical Equipment Shortages in the SAPS

A DA survey of 20 police stations in six provinces showed there were critical shortages of equipment such as bullet-proof vests, vehicles, firearms, batons and radios, as well as a lack of interview rooms, suspect identification rooms and office equipment, among other things.

The top management of the SA Police Service are being lied to by their own staff as regards equipment, particularly bullet proof vests and other shortages at police stations, says the Democratic Alliance.

The discovery of the shortage of equipment "is especially significant given the high number of police officers who have been murdered this year".

A DA discussion document - titled "Cops with Empty Holsters: Critical Equipment Shortages in the SAPS" - was given to journalists at the briefing.

It deals with the results of a survey conducted at 20 police stations. According to the document, almost two out of three of the stations reported a shortage of bullet-proof vests.

The same number reported a shortage of weapons, handcuffs and radios. Three-quarters of the stations had a vehicle shortage, and half reported a shortage of working space and office equipment.

Among the more startling statistics contained in the DA document is a shortage of 116 bullet-proof vests among officers at the Temba police station in Gauteng, and a shortage of 52 vehicles at the Queenstown station in the Eastern Cape.

The Sandton police station was found to be short of "handcuffs, torches, pepper spray, first aid kits for vehicles, road block equipment and blue lights". It also needed a further 11 bullet-proof vests, and another 34 vehicles to operate efficiently.