The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety expresses grave concern following an unannounced oversight visit to the Olievenhoutbosch Police Station, where it observed conditions that pose a serious and unacceptable risk to community members, police officers and staff.
The Committee was alarmed to discover that the station has no operational holding cells. As a result, suspects, including those accused of serious and violent crimes, are routinely detained behind the front desk counter, which is the first point of contact for victims of crime and community members seeking police services.
This practice exposes victims, the public and police personnel to significant danger and undermines the basic principles of safety, dignity and effective policing.
The Committee views this situation as wholly unacceptable and a clear threat to everyone within the police precinct.
The Committee further noted that suspects are often held at the front desk for extended periods before being transferred to neighbouring police stations with functional holding cells. This creates a volatile and high-risk environment that could easily result in serious injury or loss of life.
During the oversight visit, the Committee also observed that the station’s infrastructure is in a poor condition and that it is severely under-resourced.
These challenges significantly impair the ability of SAPS members to effectively prevent and combat crime in the area.
Of serious concern is that Olievenhoutbosch Police Station was initially established as a satellite station and was officially declared a fully-fledged police station in 2011, however, more than a decade later, construction of a new, purpose built police station has still not commenced.
The Committee further observed inadequate lighting around the police precinct, which creates unsafe conditions, particularly at night. This has resulted in the station being forced to close its gates after dark and only opening for individuals seeking services, a situation that further compromises accessibility and safety.
Additional concerns include extreme overcrowding of office space, with 29 detectives sharing a single office. During the engagement with Station Management, the Committee noted the absence of basic facilities such as an office or boardroom, forcing the briefing to take place outdoors. These conditions negatively affect staff morale and public confidence in the ability of the police to effectively fight crime.
Despite these challenges, the Committee acknowledges that Olievenhoutbosch Police Station does not fall under the Top 40 priority stations in Gauteng, which indicates that some positive work is being done. This is a testament to the dedication and commitment of the men and women in blue who continue to serve the community under extremely difficult conditions.
The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has taken serious note of all these concerns and will urgently engage the relevant authorities and make the necessary interventions to ensure that SAPS members deployed to serve the community of Olievenhoutbosch are provided with safe, adequate and dignified working conditions that are conducive to effective crime prevention and community safety.
ISSUED BY GPL’S MEDIA SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY SAFETY, HONOURABLE BANDILE MASUKU
