R300 million of SAPS helicopters grounded
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is receiving reports that helicopters belonging to the South African Police Service Air Wing have been grounded for months. This is a waste of a valuable crime fighting resource.
A few weeks ago, it was reported that 15 of the 37 helicopters belonging to the SAPS Air Wing had been grounded, awaiting ‘routine' inspection. This was followed by information sent to the DA that a further three SAPS Air Wing helicopters in Cape Town are in the hangar awaiting repairs.
This now brings the total of grounded SAPS helicopters, which we know of, to 18 out of 37. This is nearly half of the entire Air Wing.
Each of these grounded helicopters costs between R15-20 million. This means that nearly R300 million worth of crime fighting equipment is not currently being used to keep our citizens safe.
In addition, the Robinson R44s which the SAPS purchased for the World Cup are apparently yet to be used. These helicopters are fitted with specialised crime-fighting equipment such as searchlights and infrared technology.