The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape said more officers were leaving the SAPS in the province every year than the number appointed.
DA Deputy Shadow MEC for Safety and Liaison, Marshall von Buchenroder, said according to a reply to a question in the Bhisho legislature, Safety and Liaison MEC, Weziwe Tikana indicated that 569 officers left the service in 2016/17, while 379 officers were employed.
In her reply, Tikana cited some of the reasons for officers leaving. She said some went on to pursue business interests while others left for personal reasons, better remuneration and opportunities, fatigue and ill health.
Von Buchenroder said what was of concern was that SAPS was not filling the funded vacancies.
"It was reported in the media recently that a call by the SAPS for the reenlistment of former members who had left was met with resistance due to low salaries and unfair opportunity for promotion" Von Buchenroder said.
He added that the Eastern Cape needed a fully capacitated police force with all the necessary resources in order to fulfil its Constitutional mandate in protecting the public and upholding law and order" he said.
Von Buchenroder said the DA has also been calling years for specialised units to combat gang violence that would focus on regions such as the Northern Areas in Port Elizabeth.
"Instead, the lack of manpower is forcing the SAPS to take officers from various divisions to create ad hoc task teams, leaving many divisions under-capacitated which affects service delivery" he said.
