A community in Kariega, encompassing over 37,000 residents, is grappling with severe under-resourcing at its local police station, SAPS Kamesh.
According to Ward 49 Councillor, Georgen Miggels, the policing area, spanning from Gibbon Street and Middle Street onwards, is served by only two operational vehicles, leaving officers stretched thin and unable to adequately address the community’s needs.
Further complicating matters, the station’s communication systems have been crippled by ongoing copper cable theft, leaving law enforcement unable to effectively coordinate or respond swiftly to emergencies across the affected areas.
An unannounced oversight visit to SAPS Kamesh Community Service Centre (CSC), conducted by Member of Parliament and Portfolio Committee on Police member, Dereleen James, has revealed alarming infrastructure deficiencies that are severely hampering law enforcement capabilities.
Officers shared how both patrol vehicles are often deployed simultaneously, leaving no backup for additional emergencies that can take up to five hours to resolve.
The facility’s computer systems remain offline for weeks at a time owing to cable theft occurring approximately every three months, forcing officers to rely on WhatsApp messages and manual paperwork whilst cases must be registered at neighbouring stations when the technology fails.
The station’s entrance gate has been non-functional for four months and bullet holes remain visible in the detention facility from previous security breaches. Members have identified numerous drug dens and more than ten gangs operating in the area, yet lack the resources to tackle them effectively.
Prior to her oversight, James spent time hearing the cries of the residents of Rosedale about the closure of the clinic and they shared their concerns. Some residents claim that they cannot even walk to the shop nearby as they are in fear that a stray bullet might hit them as is the case in the area, also stating that hearing gunshots is a daily occurrence in the area.
@ecexpressnews 🚨 𝐊𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐡, 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐠𝐚 – 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐠𝐞 🚨 The Rosedale Clinic is closed after being targeted in gang violence. SAPS Kamesh serves 30,000+ residents with just 2 vans, in a temporary structure that’s been in place for 10 years – and even shot at. The detention centre? Closed because it’s unsafe. Cable theft? Constant. 📢 Share your thoughts — should Parliament step in immediately? #Kariega #Kamesh #SouthAfricaNews #GangViolence #CommunitySafety #SAPS #EasternCape #BreakingNews ♬ original sound – PE Express
Sharing her observation at the CSC, James told UD Express, “The area that the SAPS members have to police is very big, but resources remain few.”
She asked SAPS members present how many vehicles the CSC and Crime Prevention have, whether there are safes on premises, whether the CSC has detention facilities, how many dockets per detective there are, how many detectives there are and whether those detectives have the necessary resources, information of which was not available for her as the Station Commander was not present during the unannounced oversight.
A police member who wished to remain anonymous said, “The criminals have already shot at this station three times. Our perimeter fencing around our station is not secure. There is a small brick wall just in front of the station where the gate is, but all around the station is palisade fencing, which is not secure. Even the gate in front is open and non-functional.
“This means anyone can come in and out of our premises, even criminals. Our safety as law enforcement is compromised here and yet we have to protect the community and serve them with only two vehicles.”
He added that during the oversight, the system was offline owing to cable theft, which means they have to rely on WhatsApp to communicate with those on the outside. When asked how long the cable theft situation has been the case at the station, the members said it has been a recurring issue for approximately four months.
This means that when there is a theft, the cellular signal is affected.
“People call us but we cannot hear them because the network is so bad. The loss of cables means that complaints cannot be registered, documents cannot be filed, and have to share complaints that we can receive via WhatsApp. When we need to log a case, we have to go to the Kariega Police Station in Church Street or KwaNobuhle Police Station. If they are also offline, investigations get delayed.”
Another police member said that the pre-fabricated structure that makes up the CSC has been their place of work for approximately 10 to 15 years and added that they had been pleading to have the whole station fenced with bricks to prevent easy access.
“Before the wall in front of the building was erected, they shot at the pre-fabricated detention facility. Shootings at our building has happened three times to my knowledge,” he said.
According to the SAPS spokesperson, Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg, the South African Police Service (SAPS) can confirm that the challenges facing SAPS Kamesh CSC is known by the relevant accounting offices and departments responsible.
“We need to emphasise that all applications and authorities for replacing or upgrading of resources and buildings are subject to various official protocols and procurement processes which can take considerable time. No official time frames can be supplied at this time.”
She further confirmed that sporadic cable thefts have taken place in and around the area where the police station is located which affects the station’s communication (telephonic as well as computer systems) and electricity needs and productivity. “As a user (client) of those privately owned cables, SAPS relies on the relevant service providers for the repairs or replacements of those infrastructures.
“The Kamesh Police Station is on the capital works project, planning and design on 2026/27,” said Janse Van Rensburg.
“The SAPS Kamesh CSC station commander has implemented a temporary and emergency support system to ensure that the public can reach the SAPS station, by placing a cellphone in the CSC. This number of the cellphone is 071 475 2295 and is manned 24 hours a day by the CSC members,” she concluded.
