FLYING SQUAD DISBANDS RESERVISTS

General Phumzo Gela, head of Gauteng's visible policing, recently informed the Reservist corps of the Johannesburg Flying Squad that their services at this elite unit were no longer needed.

These highly trained reservists have diligently served the public as volunteers in this unit for many years, some for over 15 years.

On numerous occasions in the past, these reservists were utilised by the SAPS Provincial offices to carry out raids in high profile cases. Many of the successful serious crime busts reported via the PRIMEDIA Crime Line SMS campaign have been carried out by these very reliable reservist police officers.

It is tragic that experience of this nature is being rejected. When various specialised units were disbanded, such as murder and robbery, car hi -jacking units, child protection and family violence units, the DA was very vocal in our disapproval but our warnings, together with those of the public, fell on deaf ears.

I strongly urge the Provincial Commissioner of Police in Gauteng, Mzwandile Petros, to reconsider his decision to disband this efficient unit of dedicated volunteer crime busters.

Statement issued by John C Moodey, MPL, Democratic Alliance member of the Gauteng legislature, October 17 2011

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