KEY POINTS
- Police stations operate without sufficient safety measures and need better support.
- The Belhar Police Station stands at high risk because personnel must use shared restroom facilities that also serve the criminal suspects under arrest.
- Concerns raised about SAPS K9 Unit and resource allocation.
The infrastructure and work environment of South African police stations creates a crisis situation because insufficient resources restrict law enforcement operations.
The Portfolio Committee on Police reached this verdict based on its oversight assessment of Eastern Cape and Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal police stations.
Shocking conditions at Belhar police station
Belhar Police Station in the Western Cape stands as one of the most disturbing cases because officers must use the same toilet facilities as the criminal detainees.
Basic human dignity of all people is violated and safety risks are created through this improper practice. The Portfolio Committee on Police chairperson Ian Cameron personally checked the facility at the end of 2024 which left him stunned by the situation.
The officer performs efficient cleaning duties even though the station’s inadequate construction exposes it to attack opportunities. Belhar Police Station lacks enough space for detainee holding and the officers must move suspects elsewhere which leads to weakened operational capacity.
Ongoing crisis in South African policing
According to the committee there are comparable problems existing at Verulam and Durban Central Police Stations.
Employees at Verulam Police Station deal with hazardous working environments because of both deteriorating floors and rain-induced leaks in their facilities. Functioning elevators are absent and locked cells remain inactive while all toilets are inoperable at Durban Central Police Station.
The existing conditions make it difficult for SAPS to fulfill their role effectively. According to Cameron the department faces a critical situation due to badly organized police stations.
Concerns about SAPS K9 unit and resource allocation
Members of the committee expressed multiple concerns regarding Durban Central’s K9 Unit because too many dogs have exceeded their service period which hampers both tracking criminals and detecting explosive devices.
Medical equipment delays create barriers for supplying appropriate veterinary treatment to animals. Richard Mamabolo from the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) emphasized significant resource inequalities between different police stations including the ones located in rural and township areas.
Government’s response
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe declared Belhar falls under a non-devolved category therefore its maintenance responsibilities rest with the national Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI).
The authorities have chosen a new location for establishing the station and work on construction has commenced. The SAPS performs both condition assessments and conducts repairs for their areas of control, to reduce the Crisis in South African policing.
