WATCH: Benoni SAPS vehicle clearance office in ruin

The Benoni SAPS clearance building, which was once a valued state building, now lies in ruins. Concerned members of the public are calling upon the provincial police to resolve the situation.

It is alleged that the neglect of the facility, situated in Bedford Avenue, has apparently affected the smooth running of services.

The services that are offered at the building are import and exports of vehicles, clearances (engine changes) and investigations into stolen vehicles.

According to a local export agent, who wished to remain anonymous, the building has been prone to vandalism since last year but nothing has been done to prevent the situation.

“In the last two years, there have been numerous break-ins and thefts but last year September, the situation escalated when criminals cleaned out the place by stealing electricity cables and office equipment. They even vandalised the toilet block,” the agent said.

The agent said this resulted in the closure of the clearance office for October and half of November.

“We couldn’t work. If people had any export or clearance issues, they had to wait until the building reopened or go to other areas, such as Langlaagte or Mpumalanga, which is illegal to do,” the agent said.

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The concerned member said even though the offices are now up and running, working conditions have not improved.

“The SAPS employees now assist clients outside because their offices have been vandalised. They sometimes work irregular hours, which affects clients.”

Another agent, Sue Chetty, told the City Times that she heard information that the facility will be closed again this week.

Chetty said if the offices closed down, they will be badly affected because they won’t be getting any income from their clients, whom they assist.

“These offices cater to people in and around Ekurhuleni, so if they close where do they expect us to go?” said Chetty.

Shocking discovery
The City Times visited the police building on January 7 and found that it is indeed in ruins. The sight that greeted the City Times was the vandalised guardhouse and the unkempt grass.

The imports and exports offices have been overrun by vagrants and criminals, who have not only helped themselves to the office equipment but have also damaged the infrastructure.

A pair of trousers believed to belong to one of the vagrants were found inside the offices. Office cupboards and tables were found turned upside down and doors were missing.

Sensitive documents with customers’ details were found lying around the premises, tossed to and fro by the wind.
Furthermore, a part of the building has suffered fire damage.

Proceeding to the other building, the City Times found mountains of documents spilling into the corridors while electricity cables were lying all over the premises, from the entrance gate to the rest of the building. The office and toilet doors were stripped out.

The dire conditions of the building have made it difficult for employees of the SAPS to use the facility.

The City Times discovered that the employees’ vehicles and parking bays have become their offices where they do their daily work.

When the City Times visited the site again on January 13, members feared to disclose their working conditions when they were approached, although they shared that they’ve been working in such horrible conditions for a long time.

The City Times is awaiting comment from the provincial SAPS.

Haseena Ismail, MP, Benoni Constituency Political Head, this week said the DA has written to the Minister of Public
Works, Patricia de Lille, following several oversight visits to the premises and would engage with the provincial SAPS about security, especially with regard to documents.

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