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An oversight visit to the Edenvale Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD), I led yesterday, was welcomed by - nothing.

The DA-led oversight visit, and inspection found that the station was close to empty, with officers allegedly having been seconded to the Kempton Park station. Leaving the Edenvale EMPD unmanned.

In a City where crime is rising across the board, it makes no sense that an entire metro police station is left abandoned. Leaving an entire community behind, whilst allowing criminals to run rampant. Residents of Edenvale, and Ekurhuleni at large should not live in fear as collapsing service delivery leaves them without patrol cars or officers in their communities.

I am standing to be elected as Mayor of Ekurhuleni so that I can ensure that there is a full skills audit within the EMPD to ensure that every officer is fit for purpose, and most importantly, senior officers and management will be subjected to full lifestyle audits. The only way we will root out corruption, and ensure money is spent where it is most needed, is by cleaning house.

Make no mistake, the EMPD is filled with hard working police officers, however, chronic under-funding, under-capacitation, and deeply problematic leadership under ANC-EFF-cadres, as the Madlanga Commission has shown, has left it in tatters.

That is what we found yesterday, the evidence of their failures. Spread out across empty rooms and offices.

Ekurhuleni’s crime statistics paint a dark picture, when you compare the 2025 statistics with the 2026 statistics, there has been a year-on-year rise across the board. This is because of chronic leadership failures in the EMPD, and the City.

Creating one problem, as is the case with the Edenvale police station, to solve another, is not the answer. The only way we will turn this around is with a change of government. From former dodgy City Manager to current dodgy City Manager to failing political leadership – the DA will catch entrenched criminals, ensure convictions, and clean up the City of Ekurhuleni.

Issued by Khathutshelo Rasilingwane MPL - DA Ekurhuleni Mayoral Candidate