Gauteng police communications have not been jeopardised by the introduction of the 10111 digital radio network, Superintendent Eugene Opperman said on Thursday.
He was responding to media reports that the R600-million system, launched by President Thabo Mbeki last month, had crippled communications at police stations across Johannesburg and was therefore endangering officers’ lives.
The report said many officers were without radio communication with call centres and were ”driving around in the dark”.
However, Opperman said this is not the case and officers have all the communication they need to perform essential duties.
”It is not the new system that is faulty. The police officers are complaining that they don’t have radios. I have spoken to the station commissioners yesterday [Wednesday] and they have put out sufficient hand radios for the police officers.
”They do have communication to do the essential work until such time that all the old radio systems have been switched over to the new system,” he said.
Opperman said currently only the Vaal Rand call centre is operating on the new system and Soweto will be switched over soon. All six existing call centres will be operating on the new digital system by mid-December.
”We are totally on track,” Opperman said. — Sapa