Plans to rebuild KwaThema Police Station still not clear
Lasindwa is urging the community of KwaThema to stand in solidarity with the men in uniform and themselves and demand a new police station because that station has been declared unsafe by the Department of Labour many years ago.
KwaThema – Three years after the police officers and residents raised concerns about the state of the KwaThema Police Station, little has been done to remedy the situation.
The offices were confirmed unsafe, with the ceiling falling off, the roof leaking, rain water damaging important documents and electrical faults.
The bathrooms are not functional and officers are forced to use those of their neighbours or go home to relieve themselves.
Some of the abandoned buildings within the station are now used by homeless people.
Also read:
Criminals break into KwaThema Police Station
The police station also doesn’t have holding cells. They are using those of Springs Police Station or Tsakane Police Station.
When the story broke in September 2018, police officers decided to move their offices to the state vehicle after they were given indemnity forms to sign in order to use their offices.
In November 2018, residents picketed outside the police station, threatening that they will not stop until top SAPS and government officials addressed promises to build a new facility.
In an interview with Lindiwe Lasindwa, chairperson of infrastructure of legislature, she explained that she has taken it upon herself to get to the bottom of the problem.
Lasindwa explained that in September the same year, she had a meeting with the SAPS provincial office, Department of Public Works and Ekurhuleni metro.
“We discovered that SAPS has been leasing the building from the metro since 1966.
“Part of the delay is caused by the fact that no one wants to own up.
“The metro says the building is the responsibility of SAPS, while SAPS says they can’t maintain a building they don’t own, on the other hand, the Department of Public Works says they can’t commit until SAPS requests the land officially from the metro,” she explains.
Also read:
BREAKING NEWS: The main building of the KwaThema Police Station has been shut down.
Ward 74 councillor Thulani Simelane says during the first meeting with all stakeholders, it was promised that 30 temporary mobile offices will be allocated to accommodate the officers, until a resolution is reached.
“To date, only a handful have been delivered and are used to accommodate only the detectives and store dockets.
Lasindwa is urging the community of KwaThema to stand in solidarity with the men in uniform and themselves and demand a new police station because that station has been declared unsafe by the Department of Labour many years ago.
“We cannot be in 26 years of democracy and still have to fight for services,” she says.
Numerous attempts by African Reporter to get comment from the provincial office were unsuccessful by the time of going to print.
Follow us on:
