There are shortages of police officers in Gauteng which makes it impossible to curb violence against women and children crime in our province.
In Gauteng alone 63 women have been murdered in just 30 days for the period from April 1 to May 21. In these cases only 31 arrests have been made.
Rapid urbanization has resulted in an increased number of people in the province- yet the ANC led government has done nothing to recruit more police officers.
The number of police officers has decreased drastically from 2012 to 2016 while the population has increased rapidly.
The police population ratio has decreased from 282 per 100 000 citizens to 196 per 100 000 citizens, as shown on this table below from the Gauteng Department of Community Safety:
| Year | Total estimated population size | Total number of SAPS members in Gauteng | Police Population Ratio | Number of citizens per police officer |
| 2012 | 11 328 208 | 31 947 | 282 | 355 |
| 2013 | 12 728 438 | 30 513 | 240 | 417 |
| 2014 | 12 914 817 | 27 431 | 212 | 472 |
| 2015 | 13 200 349 | 27 940 | 212 | 472 |
| 2016 | 13 498 200 | 26 519 | 196 | 510 |
Police officers often shoulder the blame for the failure to combat crime while not considering the lack of personnel and resources as an obstacle.
Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane must consult with the Gauteng SAPS Commissioner, Lieutenant General Deliwe de Lange in engaging the National SAPS Commissioner and the Ministry of Police to intervene by urgently recruiting more police officers for the province.
The DA will hold MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane accountable if our people continue to be victims of crime due to shortage of police officers to protect them.