There were 276 022 South Africans ”on the run” from the police at the end of April this year, according to figures provided by Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula.
Replying to a question from Democratic Alliance chief whip Douglas Gibson, Nqakula revealed that the highest number of people sought by the police -‒ 78 552 — were in Gauteng, followed by the Western Cape with 55 030.
Nqakula also disclosed that the current personnel strength in the South African Police Service was 132 177, leaving it with a shortage of 20 000 personnel to be dealt with in phases over the three-year medium-term expenditure framework period. The aim was to eradicate the shortage by March 2006.
Nqakula said the intention was not only to eradicate the shortage, but at the same time replace the approximately 4 000 personnel who were lost each year as a result of natural attrition. He said the shortages and replacements would be addressed by means of a ”restructured enlistment programme” with specific targets:
- 13 560 enlistments during the current financial year
- 11 000 enlistments in 2004-5, and
- 9 000 during the 2005-6 financial year
He said that while shortages were being tackled, ”the service manages the current situation by optimising the utilisation of available personnel by focusing on issues such as operational prioritisation, placing emphasis on high crime areas, improved training, the comprehensive management of absenteeism and proper utilisation of force multipliers such as reservists and volunteers”.
With regard to vehicles, Nqakula said that nationally there was a shortage of 780 at station level, of which 248 were required in the Eastern Cape — more than double any other province.
He said it was envisaged that R555-million would be made available to buy vehicles in the current financial year.
”At an estimated cost of R101 472 per vehicle, approximately 5 472 vehicles can be purchased during the 2003-04 financial year” — about 5 000 vehicles are ”boarded annually. -‒ I-Net Bridge