'Not enough money' not true

2003-11-02 10:24

Port Elizabeth - The ACDP has condemned the shooting of a police constable in Port Elizabeth, saying more resources should be made available for police.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Thembi Gwe said Constable Andile Mdutyana was on his way to the shops on Saturday when he was shot in the back in Walmer township, south of Port Elizabeth, by three men.

Although a manhunt was launched, no arrests were made.

She said Mdutyana was attached to the police service in Walmer and that he was in a critical condition at the Greenacres Hospital in Port Elizabeth.

The ACDP on Sunday condemned the shooting.

It called on government to "begin to show its intent bringing an end to this blatant disregard for the lives of those who protect us".

Said Colin Fibiger: "The powers that be must now be made accountable for their lack of resourcing of our on the ground police officers.

"It is unacceptable that senior members drive fancy cars while claiming there are insufficient funds for patrol vehicles."

An ACDP policing audit undertaken earlier this year revealed major shortages at the Walmer Police Station, with unserviceable vehicles, lack of radio equipment and severe staff shortages.

One shift inspection revealed that the station officer Mdutyana was shot at, was not even opened due to lack of staff.

"While these men lay down their lives for us on a daily basis, senior officers and politicians are playing games without any real intent of dealing with the crime issue," said Fibiger.

"The moratorium on releasing crime statistics was no more than political ploy by the ANC, to avoid being seen for what they are - failures.

"Only in South Africa can members of the public shoot a police officer with impunity.

"Elsewhere in the world, such perpetrators would face the full wrath of every policing department as well as the justice system."

- SAPA