uMhlanga SAPS satellite station a ‘disgrace’
Several buildings at the station are dilapidated and outdated.
‘A SLUM in the heart of uMhlanga’. That’s how ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, described the uMhlanga SAPS satellite station after an oversight visit by members of the Democratic Alliance (DA) on Friday morning. DA Shadow Minister of Police, Zakhele Mbhele MP, together with the Shadow Deputy Minister of Public Works Dianne Kohler-Barnard MP, were joined by north Durban councillors on their oversight visit to the station on Autumn Drive.
The purpose of the visit was to inspect the efficiency of satellite station. However, the visit highlighted a multitude of problems from the rusty shipping containers to the unlivable sleeping quarters of the dilapidated station.
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“For many years residents have complained about the outer appearance of the station but today’s visit and inspection highlighted how dire the situation is. It’s a slum in the heart of uMhlanga. The shipping containers where some of the officers sleep are rusted,with holes in the roof. When it rains the rooms are affected. Another container which used to be the men’s toilets and showers is completely unusable after the roof collapsed.
“While the appearance seems tatty outside, the inside of the station is totally unacceptable. It’s hard to believe that these officers who are tasked with looking after the local community have such horrendous living conditions. We cannot blame the station management as they’ve done the best they can with the resources they have. This needs to be addressed by the Department of Public Works,” he said.
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