The community of Mfongosi in Nkandla, KwaZulu Natal is very concerned about a local police station which employs only two police officers with no basic resources like firearms or vehicles.

NO RESOURCES 

There are two constables at the station in rural KZN and they work only day shift as they don't have a vehicle. They do not work at night as they don't have service pistols. As if that is not shocking enough, Zimoja was also informed that Mfongosi Police Station does not have computers, landline, water or cleaners.  "This is a disaster that we are facing here in Mfongosi. Crime is going up now as people know that there are no cops in our area. Even the ones we have they are not able to bring law and order as they don't have resources,' a concerned community member said. According to another community member, the station used to be a normal police station until police officers started applying for transfers leaving the rural station in disarray.  

USED TO KEEP LIVESTOCK SAFE 

When the police are not at work, some locals drink at the station and leave beer bottles in some parts of the station. The station hasn't had a cleaner or a gardener in years and the trees, weed and grass have overgrown so much that the cops are scared to walk inside the yard, fearing snakes. Some locals use the police station to keep their livestock like cows, donkeys, sheep and goats safe. "They keep them there at night since they know that the station is fenced, and people will not steal them from there. They lock them inside the police station. The station does not work at night and on weekends the police officers are normally found in their homes. If you need police assistance, you must go and knock in their houses, even at night, "said the concerned member of the community. 

RELYING ON NEAREST POLICE STATION 

The concerned community members said they have to rely on the nearest Khombe Police Station, which is 45 minutes away. " Sometimes they take three to four hours to reach our area when we need assistance. We cannot blame the two Mfongosi police officers because we stay with them, and we are aware what they are going through. They do call Khombe police for backup if there is crime like murder because they can't protect themselves," another community member said. Local councillor Tshepo Ngubane confirmed to ZiMoja that the community was concerned over the police station that employs two police officers with no station commander or captain. This has been going on for years now and I am trying my best to sort this mess, but I am not winning. This Mfongosi police station problem needs provincial government intervention. I have tried my best, but I am not winning. The only thing that the cops in that police station help us with areaffidavits," Ngubane said.