New police station for Cosmo City experiences delays
However, that date has come and gone, leaving many with numerous questions about the ‘empty’ promise.
The already strained Honeydew Police Station may be forced to stretch their limited resources for an extended period following delays in the opening of a new police station in Cosmo City.
July was expected to be welcomed with a sigh of relief and celebration from many residents of Cosmo City and surrounds, following a promise to open a fully-fledged station in the area, which was meant to alleviate the pressure on the Honeydew Police Station.
On 14 March, the Police’s Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, made a stop at Honeydew Police Station, one of 40 identified embattled stations he planned to rescue, and promised a station for Cosmo City, which would start operating from 1 July.
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However, that date has come and gone, leaving many with numerous questions about the ‘empty’ promise.
Honeydew Police spokesperson, Captain Balan Muthan, who could not respond to the questions, advised the Northsider to approach the national department for comment. However, although both the national and provincial departments were approached for comment, their response is still awaited.
At a recent Honeydew Sector 2 Community Policing Forum meeting, this matter formed part of the agenda, as the issue of crime in Cosmo City and its surrounds continues to take its toll on the Honeydew-based station.
The public relations officer for Sector 2’s CPF, Jon Rosenberg, enlightened us about the matter. “We were advised that the opening of the Cosmo station has been delayed to October,” he said.
When asked about the cause of the delay, the chairperson for Sector 2, Neville Burnett, responded: “Resources and the proposed location were stated as the problem”.
It is uncertain whether the station was going to be based where the satellite station is currently located.
The duo also expressed how the delay affected the already difficult fight against crime in the area. Rosenberg said the consequence of the delay for Honeydew is that the station still has to deploy manpower to Cosmo City.
Burnett said Sector 2’s crime statistics will escalate. “As of the last Sector 2 meeting on 27 June, it has been noted that the crime rate has increased,” he indicated.
The station in Cosmo City would help Honeydew in policing areas such as the Eskom informal settlement, Kyasands, Itshuseng and Zandspruit.
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