Makhaza gets police station... 20 years late

The days of Makhaza residents having to walk long distances to report crime are now over after Police Minister Bheki Cele opened a new police station there last week - two decades after a site was identified.

The new R23 million station, however, is made of prefabricated units and will serve as temporary measure until construction can start on a permanent one next year, according to Mr Cele.

Up until now, Harare police station - more than 4km away and about an hour's walk - was the closest one for the community.

Makhaza residents have long pleaded for a police station closer to their homes, and the development comes 20 years after a site was first identified for the police station and a decade after the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry called, in 2014, for its construction to be sped up to tackle a shortage of police services there.

On Thursday last week, many could not contain their joy as the new station was handed over to its commander, Lieutenant Colonel Linda Mangaliso.

Residents felt hopeful that the development would help to curb crime.

Community activist Funeka Soldaat is among those who pushed for a police station in the area.

“I am elated but emotional at the same time. We also have organisations like the Treatment Action Campaign and Social Justice Coalition that are now defunct who were at the forefront of this police station. But again I am delighted because after a years of fighting, here is the police station. Remember there was also the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry into policing that recommended it to be built, but it took years even after that. I am truly excited that we have this police station now. We did not fight for nothing,” she said.

Another community activist, Ndithini Tyhido, said he had been fighting for a police station for 18 years."I have listened to failed promises. I have seen the delays. I have seen it all. Today is an emotional day, but I am elated.“

Residents said the police station would need to have sufficient vehicles and officers and other resources to make a difference.

“We have been crying to have this. We have been crying about the long road to Harare and getting robbed along the way to that police station. But today we are rewarded. The only hope we have is good service from the station,” said resident Anesipho Muthwa.

The new police station will serve Makhaza along with Nkanini, Emsindweni, and surrounds.

Mr Cele said it had been necessary to fast track the police station because of high crime in the area.

The possibility of establishing a police station in Browns Farm was also being looked at, he said.

Mr Cele handed over 26 vehicles to the station and warned the police officers not to use them as their own.

“These cars are for visibility and protecting this community. These are not for the police to check their girlfriends and get groceries. The police station’s job is to protect the community.”

Protecting women, children and the elderly was a priority, he stressed.

"No police officer must tell an abused woman to go back and negotiate. Don’t send her back to negotiate, you’re not a negotiator. To negotiate is not your job. Yours is to protect victims and arrest criminals. When a woman comes here bleeding, the police should leave everything and attend her. That applies to children and the elderly.“

He said there was a need for a special force to tackle extortion rackets in the area.

“This place must be cleaned of the devil called extortion. As police, we must respond hard.”