MIDDELBURG — A total of 128 police vehicles have been handed over to various police stations across the province by

the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL).

During a handover event held at the Sydney Choma Banquet Hall in Middelburg on Wednesday, 01 April 2026, Community

Safety MEC Jackie Macie said the vehicles, valued at R101 million, will serve as a critical resource in the fight against crime

and increase police visibility during the Easter season operations and beyond.

A total of 96 bakkies will be allocated across the province’s three districts, with each district receiving 32 vehicles, while 28

vehicles will be assigned to the crime investigation (detectives) division.

Beyond the handover, toys, storybooks and colouring pencils were among items donated to a Victim Friendly Facility (VFF)

in Middelburg. An additional four unmarked vehicles, reflectors, torches, water coolers and air conditioners were handed

over to members of the Community Policing Forum (CPF).

The handover follows a Crime Imbizo held on 21 March 2026 in Mhluzi.

Speaking to the Highveld Chronicle, MEC Jackie Macie said the vehicles form part of a response to concerns raised during

community engagements.

“We are responding to the outcries of the communities because when we conducted community outreaches or izimbizo, they

consistently raised concerns that the police are not responding efficiently due to a lack of resources, with vehicles being one

of them,” he said.

Macie added that the increase in vehicles is expected to improve response times.

“We expect them to respond in less than 30 minutes to reported incidents within their respective policing areas,” he said.

“We also call on the community to work with the police to safeguard these resources.”

The newly allocated vehicles add to the 1 830 vehicles currently registered under SAPS in the province, with 653 reported to

have exceeded 300 000 kilometres.

Provincial SAPS Acting Commissioner, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, warned against the misuse of state resources.

“They [vehicles] are instruments for crime prevention, crime investigation and essential service delivery. We will not accept

a culture in which the very resources intended to protect our communities are misused for personal gain,” he said.

“We do not want to hear of SAPS vehicles being handed over today only to be involved in accidents where such vehicles are

damaged beyond repair. This is not merely negligence; it is a failure of duty that we cannot tolerate.”