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- A recent report found the "state of disrepair" of many police stations had a negative impact on officers' morale.
- The report aims to assist MPs who will take over from the current committee in the next parliamentary term.
- The report highlighted challenges with infrastructure development and the maintenance of police stations.
The "state of disrepair" of many police stations has a negative impact on the morale of officers.
It also "portrays an unprofessional image" to the communities which the stations serve.
This is according to a recent "legacy" report, presented virtually to Parliament's portfolio committee on police on Wednesday, according to GroundUp.
The report, compiled to assist those taking over from the current committee, highlighted the South African Police Service's (SAPS) significant challenges with infrastructure development, the maintenance of police facilities, and leasing.
Legacy report
"SAPS is heavily dependent on the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) for the construction, upgrade and maintenance of police infrastructure. The deficiencies in the DPWI must be addressed at a national government level," the report read.
The committee recommended that SAPS consider alternative methods of infrastructure and lease management to "lessen the dependency on the DPWI", and to "bring policing services closer to communities and improve the working conditions".
The DA's Brandon Golding said it was "imperative that we call these other agencies (like DPWI) to account. We need them to present a report because SAPS is being hamstrung by external issues".
READ | 'Unfit for human use': Cop building in Pretoria evacuated, closed but core policing not affected
The EFF's Virgill Gericke agreed: "We cannot be business as usual. The lack of involvement may contribute to the increase of crime in these areas."
The report stated that departments should give feedback on the recommendations by 15 May 2024.
"These will be made available to the 7th Parliament to further guide oversight," it read.
State of SAPS buildings
The dilapidation of police buildings has been under the spotlight recently.
At a meeting earlier this month, Police Minister Bheki Cele admitted that he had been working from home for the past four years due to the state of the Telkom Towers building in Pretoria.
This building was meant to be the national headquarters of SAPS. It was declared unfit for human use and was flagged by the Auditor-General as a material irregularity.
The Auditor-General found that only one of nine buildings in the complex was ever occupied by SAPS.
In a statement, the DA's Sello Seitlholo, who sits on the portfolio committee of public Works and infrastructure, called for a full review of the department's mandate.
"The state of the Telkom Towers is not a new issue as it was flagged by the Auditor-General in 2021," he said.
He added:
Public Works Minister Sihle Zikalala earlier this month told MPs that the department's forensic investigation into the Telkom Towers debacle would "start soon".
However, the Telkom Towers building remains closed; staff were evacuated in February.
Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili, during a briefing in Parliament last week, said that some police members were still working from home "while they waited for office space from the DPWI".
The National Intervention Unit's office in Pretoria was also flagged by the police union, Solidarity.
Mosikili acknowledged there "is no supply of clean drinking water … while power cables are being stolen" - but, she added, the repairs and maintenance of the building were the responsibility of DPWI.
