/ 2 August 1996

How bad is it, really? The SAPS’s figures

Eastern Cape

* 205 police stations in the province

* 13% of the national police force serving 16% of the population

* 18 500 policemen, including those from Transkei and Ciskei

* Total manpower shortage in the province estimated at 2 589

Free State

* 109 police stations; 36 satellite points

* 287 civilians per policeman

* Individual stations have shortages since police budget to Free State was cut

Gauteng

* 24 906 police personnel in Witwatersrand region before 1994 elections

* Today there are 31 804 in the Witwatersrand and Pretoria

Kwazulu-Natal

* Each police officer has to serve 445 people

* 20 223 police officers; need 26 000

* 179 police stations

* Financial shortages, need funds

Mpumalanga

* 6 596 police personnel in the province; needs 9 720 officers

* 32% understaffed

* 95 police stations. All of them are understaffed

* 499 civilians to every policeman

* Budget for the area has been cut by R40-million compared to last year

* Too few vehicles, but they “have learnt to manage”

Northern Cape

* Working within a restricted budget. Situation could become critical despite a slight decrease in crime

* No recruits since April 94

* 85 police stations in province

* 44% understaffed

* 3667 police officers, with 237 civilians per officer

Northern Province

* 9337 policemen for 90 police stations

* 23% understaffed

* Ratio of police officers to civilians is 1:578

* No recruits since 1994

North West

* 9 337 policemen, about 630 civilians to one policeman

* 90 police stations in the province and they are 70% understaffed

* 3 700 vacancies

Western Cape

* 12 104 policemen serving over 1000 civilians each

* 153 police stations serving a population of nearly 5-million

* Figures indicate that after reorganisation of resources in October 1996, the force will be 17% understaffed

South Africa Narcotics Bureau

* Currently have 30 members in Johannesburg, at John Vorster Square. Needs at least double