Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by David Mc Kay MPL and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL. See attached pictures here, here and here.
– Restore holding cells and infrastructure at SAPS stations
– Fill critical SAPS vacancies to strengthen policing capacity and effectiveness.
– Investigate misconduct allegations
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is outraged by the collapse of policing capacity and discipline across the Tokologo Local Municipality, particularly at the SAPS stations in Dealesville, Boshof, and Hertzogville. Communities are being failed by a police service that is critically understaffed, under-resourced, and increasingly unable to fulfil its constitutional mandate to protect residents and uphold the law.
The DA has called on the Provincial Commissioner to urgently fill critical vacancies, restore holding cells, establish local financial offices, deploy rural coordinators to each station, institute transparent investigations into all allegations of misconduct, and appoint a permanent station commander in Dealesville, to which he has consented, in a recent oversight committee.
Dealesville and Boshof SAPS stations face severe staff shortages and resource constraints, while officers are expected to manage overwhelming caseloads with limited operational support. Residents live in daily fear as burglaries, theft, and violent crime continue to plague communities. Reports of victims being turned away, cases not being opened, and allegations of police collusion with criminals have further eroded public trust.
The situation is worsened by crumbling infrastructure, dysfunctional detective services, and a lack of leadership. Dealesville is currently operating without a permanent Station Commander, creating a vacuum of accountability and weakening operational standards. The absence of operational holding cells in both towns further undermines law enforcement by preventing local detention of suspects.
The DA is also concerned that no town in Tokologo has rural coordinators or riot-trained officers, leaving communities and the police ill-prepared to respond to public unrest. They rely on Public Order Police stationed in Bloemfontein. Residents are further disadvantaged by the absence of SAPS financial offices in Dealesville, Boshof, and Hertzogville, which forces firearm license applicants to travel to Bloemfontein for basic administrative services.
Most alarming are serious allegations of misconduct involving SAPS members, including reports that officers have engaged in illegal hunting and driving official vehicles while intoxicated. The apparent failure of district leadership to act decisively against such conduct sends a dangerous message that indiscipline will be tolerated. These allegations have been escalated to the Provincial Commissioner.
The people of Tokologo deserve professional, accountable, and adequately resourced policing services – not neglect, dysfunction, and chaos.