GEORGE NEWS - The intermittent closure of the Wilderness satellite police station has become a growing concern for many residents in the area.
Wilderness has long been known for its close-knit community. However, residents have reported an increase in crime-related incidents, often requiring armed response security companies to step in and assist.
The concern, however, lies in what happens afterwards. According to a longstanding resident who wished to remain anonymous, the Wilderness police station is frequently closed during the week, leaving armed response units to remain with suspects until members from George arrive.
“This places considerable strain on available resources, effectively removing patrol vehicles from their primary function of monitoring and securing the Wilderness area and its surrounds,” the resident said.
A local businessman echoed these concerns, saying that to his knowledge, the Wilderness station is only operational when the George station has a full staff complement. Otherwise, residents must rely on assistance from George.
Compounding the issue are ongoing roadworks on the N2, which frequently reduce traffic to a single lane. As a result, travel times between Wilderness and George have become increasingly unpredictable.
Under these circumstances, residents argue that the closure of the satellite station has a direct impact on both service delivery and community safety.
“We pay high rates and taxes, and there's a growing expectation that service delivery be reliable and commensurate with those contributions,” the resident said.
According to Southern Cape police spokesperson Warrant Officer Chris Spies, the deployment of members in the area is considered an operational matter, and their office is therefore not at liberty to comment.
He said that Wilderness is a satellite police station that falls under the George policing precinct, with services rendered on a 24-hour basis.
Members of the public are advised to contact the Wilderness Satellite Station on 044 877 0011 or the George police control room on 044 803 4732.
Alternatively, the Sector Commander, Warrant Officer Jan Kuhn, can be contacted on 079 893 9951.
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