Crime incidents at the barracks have increased and sadly, the dilapidated flats where the men and women in blue live with their families are not immune to it.
In South Africa, there are more than 30 buildings, designated police barracks and police compounds in which South African Police Service members and their families are housed.
A resident living in the barracks said they are not happy with the conditions they live in. “Sometimes we take money out of our pockets to get people to come clean the building, but our husbands are paying money for sanitation every month,” said Nontle Mabotja, a resident.
“We are not safe in a State property, recently three cars have been stolen.”
In June 2012, the filthy state of some of these buildings was publicly exposed. The barracks were labelled as worse than jail cells.
But four years down the line, little has been done to improve these buildings, which continue to deteriorate on a daily basis.
Concerned Norwood resident, Beata Gianni, who visits the barracks almost every day to feed and sterilise cats, said the rubbish and the dirt pose a serious health hazard to the residents and the place should be cleaned before people become sick.
“It is a hygiene problem and in view of global warming, I think it is a crime towards our planet,” Gianni said.
Community Policing Forum chairperson, Stanley Letsoalo said they are flabbergasted by the state the police barracks are in and action should be taken. “As the Norwood CPF we are taken aback and shocked by the state of the police barracks, we would like to call upon the station’s management to jointly assist us in engaging residents of the police barracks on the importance of cleanliness, it is also the task of the residents to ensure that there are structures in place to ensure that the issue of cleanliness is monitored,” Letsoalo said.
Ward 74 councillor, Mia Snyman said she is concerned about the state of the police barracks on the outside and about the rumours of sub-letting. “A member of the Gauteng Provincial legislature will be joining me to do an oversight visit,” she said.
