Uproar over locked toilets at SAPS in eMbalenhle
“We even tried to lock the toilet and left the key at the Community Service Centre where the public could ask for it. People left without returning the key.”
Though the police station in eMbalenhle has long queues of community members needing services, the public toilets always remain locked.
According to concerned residents, it was a human rights violation for the police to deny them access to the toilets.
Community members who queued last week said this was worrying.
“What is the station management thinking when they see us queuing, yet they know the toilets are inaccessible?
“They always preach the Batho Pele (People First) principles which they do not practise. We have elderly people who also queue here. What will happen when they need to use the toilet?” asked an upset woman in the queue.
“We have a CPF whose role is to ensure we get good service at the police station. Does our CPF not see how wrong this is?” asked another person.
The eMbalenhle CPF chairperson, Joseph Mhlongo, said the community’s actions led to the police locking the toilets in the first place.
Mhlongo said the station management ensured enough toilet paper for use despite the toilets and drains constantly being blocked by foreign objects, such as newspapers.
“We even tried to lock it and left the key at the community service centre where the public could ask for it. People left without returning the key.
“The officers would then only know the key was missing when someone else had an emergency.”
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Mhlongo said vandalism in the women’s facilities saw water basins and taps taken.
“The tap for them to drink water from while waiting for service is often left open and floods the police station’s gate.
“When I asked why the tap was left running, a person in the queue asked why they should worry about wasting the government’s water because it was not for their own bill,” explained Mhlongo.
He said it was concerning because even the people washing cars on the street fetched water from the police station water tank while making money but did not pay for it.
Constable Busi Mthethwa, the spokesperson for the eMbalenhle Police, did not comment before the newspaper went to print.
