Anxious members accuse Roodepoort Police Station of Covid-19 protocol neglect

One would assume that stringent precautionary measures are taken to prevent workers at the frontline of rendering public services from contracting the deadly coronavirus.

However, some anxious members stationed at Roodepoort Police Station have told a different and shocking story about their life-threatening experiences at the workplace.
These officers, who wished to remain anonymous to avoid victimisation, turned to the Record to try and get their superiors to provide a working environment that complies with the Covid-19 health regulations. They alleged that the station had completely abandoned workplace protocol despite health scares in the building.

One of the terrified officers told the Record that station management does not follow the proper procedures, even after a member has tested positive for the virus.

“On Friday, 8 January, we had two shift members who tested positive for Covid-19 but the station wasn’t decontaminated or cleansed following the result,” the frustrated member claimed.

The Record reported on the temporary closure of the station on 10 January after receiving information about a number of unconfirmed cases from Roodepoort Police spokesperson, Captain Juanita Yorke, who apologised to the public for the inconvenience caused during the closure.
Despite this measure, the concerned officer alleged that it took two days for any form of action to be taken by management.

“We are looking for help on Covid-19 regulations to be followed for employees. Our lives are at risk and our community members may also suffer,” another employee seconded this accusation.
To get some perspective as to whether the public is safe when setting foot in the station, or whether the required safety precautions are applied at the station, Provincial Police spokesperson, Brigadier Mathapelo Peters responded to the allegations as follows.

“Responsible and disciplined members of the SAPS know the due processes to be followed to lodge a complaint, especially on such a serious matter. The South African Police Service has protocols in place for the containment of the spread of Covid-19. This includes the provision of PPE to our members and regular sanitizing of our work stations and vehicles.”

“When a positive case is reported at a station or at any of our buildings, the place is temporarily closed down for decontamination while contingency plans kick in to relocate services to an alternative building for the benefit of the public. The process of decontamination can take 24 to 48 hours maximum. During this time, our priority is to ensure that the virus does not spread further and that we keep our members safe. We also ensure that service delivery to the public is not disrupted in any way,” she explained.

“The Management of the SAPS is confident that the Acting Station Commander, Colonel Nkosi is adhering to and executing the SAPS Covid-19 protocols in the best interest of the safety of SAPS members and communities serviced by the station,” she concluded.