Old Ballito police station a security risk
A former beacon of community safety and security.
The old and dilapidated Ballito satellite police station building poses a security concern because it may harbor vagrants and criminals.
This is according to colonel Dieter Fittkau from Umhlali SAPS. The property now belongs to the department of public works and they are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the grounds but as is evident from photos, that responsibility has, up to now, been grossly neglected. Previous calls to have the property tidied up have so far fallen on deaf ears. A frustrated colonel Fittkau said he receives countless complaints from the public about the state of the property almost on a daily basis and it is time to take action.
Bullet holes, empty wine bottles, old shoes and gaping holes in the prefabricated buildings’ floors grace this former beacon of community safety and security. The fence is down in places and well trodden footpaths leading to and from the buildings indicate the property is being accessed on a regular basis by people who should not be there. Judging by the number of cheap empty wine bottles lying around, the building is a popular hangout. A large amount of personal effects of people who made the buildings their home was recently confiscated but new items have started accumulating. Crime in the area is high and residents believe the state of the property is the reason.
The national department of public works in Pretoria has been contacted and promised to investigate and get back to us in time for next week’s newspaper.
