Cops 'short of 20 000 staff'
2003-11-07 21:48
Lizel Steenkamp
Johannesburg - Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula says the police are 20 000 staff short.
In addition, 4 000 leave the service every year, he said on Friday.
Speaking at a Business Against Crime function in Johannesburg, Nqakula said the staff shortage was being addressed in his department's three-year plan, which aims to have 153 000 officers by 2006.
In May this year, there were 132 310 police officers.
Nqakula also emphasised the acute shortage of police vehicles.
"We need vehicles desperately... That's why I said police must use their own vehicles if no official ones were available," he said.
He also suggested police stations shared vehicles.
Shauket Fakie, the auditor-general, said in his latest report on the department of safety and security that the vehicle shortage was critical in certain areas.
- Beeld