Last stop at police ‘chop shop’
The noisy pounding of the cop vans took place at the Police Auxiliary Garage in Alton, after the vehicles – most of which were irreparable after crashes or had exceeded their lifespan – had been gathered from stations as far apart as Kosi Bay and Stanger.
NO fewer than 87 police vans were consigned to their final resting place on Monday, courtesy of a 10-ton per square inch vehicle crusher.
The noisy pounding of the cop vans took place at the Police Auxiliary Garage in Alton, after the vehicles – most of which were irreparable after crashes or had exceeded their lifespan – had been gathered from stations as far apart as Kosi Bay and Stanger.
‘This is an annual exercise,’ said Lt Col Andre Eksteen, head of Supply Chain Management.
‘These vans have been boarded, so to speak, and are being disposed of as redundant.
‘The process is very methodical once the vehicles have been stripped of all police equipment, to meet with strict audit requirements.
‘To ensure that they are actually consigned to the graveyard and parts are not misappropriated in any way, photos are taken at five stages during the crushing process,’ said Lt Col Eksteen.
‘It takes only two minutes to reduce the vehicles from their original shape and size to less than half a metre high when they are flattened in the Reclamation Group’s powerful crusher.
‘From here they are taken to Reclam’s Prospecton site where a hammer mill reduces the metal into small pieces, which are later exported.’
