LIMPOPO- Police officers at the police station in Louis Trichardt have had to bring their own water to work since the station started experiencing a shortage of water eight months ago.
Water is fetched from taps outside the building in order to flush the toilets, and when these are blocked, officers have to visit a nearby fuel station where they pay R2 every time they need to use the ablution facilities.
Speaking to CV on condition of anonymity, one of the officers said they believe the situation poses a serious health risk, since toilets cannot be cleaned properly. The issue, he said, had been raised with the provincial officer several times, without anything being done to resolve the matter.
“Employees have to work in conditions that are not healthy or safe. The lack of water exposes us all to possible infections. The poor hygiene control makes this a worrisome working environment.”
Community Safety spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene said the Makhado Police Station is situated in an area where the municipality should be in a position to provide water as a basic service, but has failed to do so.
“Unfortunately, the station is not immune from water shortages when the local authority is unable to provide water for the area. We are hoping for a speedy resolution to these water challenges to ensure a healthy environment for all involved.”
Chuene added that the SAPS management in the area was working on temporary relief measures, including delivering water to the station.
Makhado Police Station is not the only police station, however, that suffers from the same fate.
The Tshilwavhusiku SAPS has been without running water since 2020, and because of this, trial-awaiting prisoners have to be incarcerated at the Makhado Correctional Services and Mara Police Station, situated more than 20km away.
When the prisoners must appear in the Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate’s Court, they have to be collected and transported from Louis Trichardt and Mara, all the way back to Tshilwavhusiku.
Because of the issue of water shortages, members from the Tshilwavhusiku SAPS spend most of their time transporting prisoners back and forth in the vehicles that should be utilised for crime prevention.
