KwaThema SAPS decaying offices to be demolished
“We are happy all the officials will be moved into park homes but this will only be done when proper security features have been fitted to the temporary structures.”
KwaThema – Lindi Lasindwa, chairperson of the portfolio committee on infrastructure development at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, says the slow progress of moving SAPS members out of their decaying main building will not derail them.
During a progress meeting held in the temporary mobile offices outside the station on Monday, she further said they will push harder until all the officials are removed and the building has been demolished.
Seven weeks ago, members of SAPS in KwaThema decided to vacate the main building after the Department of Labour, in September, declared it unsafe to occupy.
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The officials were given until the first week of October to vacate the building.
In solidarity, members of the community joined in the fight, demanding the building is demolished to make way for a new and safer building.
Lasindwa says they decided to join in the fight after they learned the province had intentions to renovate the building.
“This building is old with water flooding the offices, electrical faults and parts of the roof, especially in the holding cells, damaged.
“As community leaders, we could not stand by and do nothing.
“We decided to step in and demand the old building is demolished,” she says.
During the meeting on Monday, it was established the progress was halted by bottleneck situations within SAPS and the municipality.
Lasindwa says even though the officials seem to be blaming each other for the slow progress, they are happy an agreement to move the SAPS members into temporary structures to make way for the demolishing of the decaying building has been reached.
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“The province had previously promised to allocate two park homes to house the officers, but they have promised 17 to date, which is a good sign.
“We are happy all the officials will be moved into park homes but this will only be done when proper security features have been fitted to the temporary structures.
“The procurement process to install the internet and telephone lines are also in the final stages but will only be connected once the security features are put into place.
“We will be meeting with the head of the Directorate of Estates to finalise the authorisation to use the temporary land.
“We have agreed to meet with all stakeholders in the next six weeks for a progress report,” she further explains.
