The Western Cape Police Department cleared the air surrounding circulating rumours and confusion about the management status of the Franschhoek Police Station.
Provincial police spokesperson Col André Traut confirmed that “although Franschhoek Police Station is currently under the command of a lieutenant colonel the station has never been upgraded accordingly, and the staff establishment remained unchanged.”
A message circulating on social media prompted Traut’s response after Eikestadnuus enquired whether there was any truth to rumours that the station would be downgraded as a captain station.
The circulating information initially stated: “Important Notice with regard to Franschhoek Police Station: I have been informed there is a very big chance that Franschhoek Police Station will be downgraded from a colonel to a captain police station.
“The highest ranking officer will be a captain, which basically means the chances of additional [police] members being assigned to Franschhoek are minimal to none.”
Traut dismissed the notion that Franschhoek’s police resource allocations would be affected.
He said: “It is on this basis that the change of command to that of a captain will have no effect on the allocated resources. The community will not be affected by this arrangement.”
Based on Traut’s feedback, it would seem there will be no changes to the command and control at Franschhoek Police Station, but merely an administrative correction.
“It’s deemed mentioning that Franschhoek SAPS is not the only police station affected by the correction of the command and control. However, this restructuring process is yet to be implemented.”
Other questions with regard to the number of police members under Franschhoek police’s command, and any changes to the station’s commander were not answered by Traut.
