KEMPTON PARK, Gauteng — The Kempton Park police station is facing intense scrutiny after Ekurhuleni Ward 17 Councillor Simon Lapping revealed the precinct’s conviction success rate sits at a mere 0.4%. This alarming statistic emerges as community outrage boils over the deaths of four women whose bodies were discovered in the area over the past two months, prompting a planned protest march and the establishment of a multi-disciplinary investigative task team.
While authorities note it is still too early to confirm whether a serial killer is responsible for the fatalities, the discovery of a fourth body in the East Rand on Saturday night has deeply destabilized the community. In response, residents and local institutions, including Kempton Park Large School, have formed WhatsApp networks to share information. The latest victim was a mother of a child attending the school, further galvanizing a community march scheduled for 8:30 AM at the Kempton Park Police Station.
Councillor Lapping highlighted that the station’s 0.4% conviction rate means only one out of every 250 reported crimes is resolved with a conviction. He contrasted this dismal figure with the national average of approximately 2% and the international standard of 4% to 6%, labeling the local track record as unequivocally poor.
According to Lapping, the root of the crisis stems from a severe lack of visible policing, proper resources, and adequate training. He pointed out that South African police training takes only nine to ten months, compared to the three-year standard in most other countries. This abbreviated training, he argued, results in frontline staff and detectives who lack fundamental legal knowledge, including basic definitions of fraud or dolus eventualis.
Compounding the incompetence is a critical misallocation of funds. Lapping asserted that money is being spent on “fancy generals” within the South African Police Service (SAPS) rather than being directed toward critical forensic and DNA facilities, which he noted are years behind. He referenced recent findings from the Madlanga Commission regarding serious systemic problems, expressing deep frustration that neither the president nor the minister has announced concrete plans to rectify the nationwide policing crisis.
Recent crime statistics underscore the severity of the local situation. Kempton Park ranks number 22 among the top 30 police stations for serious crimes, with approximately 1,380 reported incidents. Additionally, trio crimes in the area reached 79 between April 2026 and June 2026, with the station ranking 15th in the second quarter alone.
To illustrate the systemic dysfunction, Lapping shared multiple anecdotal accounts of police failure. He recounted waiting 11 hours for a response after being hijacked, and a nine-month delay in an inquiry regarding a young girl killed on a railway line, despite him providing evidence to open a criminal case. Community members have similarly reported being told to simply keep their shops closed due to drug dealers operating out front, or being questioned about their immigration status by officers responding to an armed robbery, rather than investigating the crime itself. Lapping noted that many frontline staff appear equipped only to stamp affidavits and certify ID copies, lacking the training to take proper statements.
Lapping also raised concerns about potential evidence contamination, criticizing the Premier’s recent visit to the crime scene on Sunday. He argued that officials walking over the area shortly after an evening discovery could compromise vital evidence that requires daybreak for proper forensic collection.
Ultimately, Lapping concluded that a complete shakeup of the Kempton Park Police Station is imperative. He emphasized that unless frontline staff are properly trained, resourced, and held accountable, the current culture of impunity will continue to embolden criminals. “If they can’t do the job, they must move on and go work as a car guard,” Lapping stated, warning that when the police lose interest in fighting crime, the community is left entirely disillusioned and vulnerable.
