GQEBERHA – The Gqeberha Flying Squad’s ongoing vehicle shortage has come under renewed scrutiny after Parliament condemned reports that officers who used their own vehicles to respond to crimes could face an internal investigation.

Parliament questions possible probe

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, expressed shock at reports of an intention to institute an internal investigation against members of the Gqeberha Flying Squad who used their personal vehicles to perform their duties due to a shortage of official vehicles.

“If true, this is patently unacceptable, irresponsible and an abuse of power by those in positions of authority. Officers should not be punished for attempting to fulfil their constitutional and professional responsibilities in circumstances where the necessary tools of trade have not been provided,” said Cameron.

“The Flying Squad members have shown nothing but commitment to their oath of office and have gone beyond the call of duty to ensure the safety of residents of the Eastern Cape, despite the difficult circumstances in which they find themselves operating.”

Cameron said he had personally visited the area and, following the oversight visit, sought to intervene to ensure that the Flying Squad Unit was adequately equipped with the necessary vehicles.

However, he said little appeared to have been done to address the longstanding challenge.

Officers praised for going extra mile

“The unwillingness to find solutions to this challenge should not now be used as a tool to punish officers who refused to sit back and do nothing while criminality increases. These officers should be commended for their commitment to protecting communities, not subjected to disciplinary action for trying to do their jobs,” said Cameron.

Vehicle crisis highlighted during 2025 visit

As previously reported, police officers in Nelson Mandela Bay were already facing serious vehicle and equipment shortages during a parliamentary oversight visit in November 2025.

At the time, officers were reportedly showing up for work only to find broken-down vehicles and equipment so inadequate that they had to dig into their own pockets to perform their duties.

The Flying Squad, which had previously boasted 15 to 20 operational vehicles daily, had been reduced to a single van.

The Anti-Gang Unit was also struggling with limited resources, with 110 personnel sharing just four working vehicles, while the K9 Unit was operating with barely half of its former staff.

SAPS urged to address resource shortages

In Parliament, Cameron emphasised that the lack of adequate tools of trade within the South African Police Service (SAPS) remained a persistent concern for the Portfolio Committee on Police and was a standing issue during the committee’s oversight visits.

“Vehicles are an essential tool that enables SAPS members to respond timeously to reported acts of crime. If Flying Squad members do not have access to vehicles, they are inevitably hampered in their ability to effectively prevent and combat crime. The committee has repeatedly raised concerns about the shortage and poor availability of police vehicles. It is therefore concerning that officers who have used their own vehicles to respond to emergencies and protect communities could now face an internal investigation,” said Cameron.

Focus should be on equipping officers

He advised SAPS senior management to focus its efforts on adequately equipping the Gqeberha Flying Squad with sufficient and operational vehicles, rather than investigating officers who resorted to using their personal vehicles in the absence of official resources.

“The dedication demonstrated by the Flying Squad members should be commended and encouraged across the service. If more officers demonstrated this level of courage, determination and selflessness, the SAPS would be in a stronger position to make a meaningful impact in the fight against crime and criminality,” said Cameron.

“Instead of discouraging officers from going the extra mile to protect communities, SAPS management should ensure that they have the resources and support they need to perform their duties effectively.”

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