By Doreen Mokgolo
The KwaThema police station is in desperate need of repair, and ActionSA MP and member of the police portfolio in Parliament Dereleen James has called for it to be shut down until a permanent solution is found.
In a post on X filmed during her unannounced oversight inspection of the station on Friday, James said she could not believe what she was seeing.
The rundown building has no electricity and uses an extension cord to get power. Eighteen detectives share one tiny office with only one computer to capture their cases.
The cells were declared unfit for human habitation and are now used for storage space. Arrested suspects must be taken to the cells at the Springs police station.
The charge office’s glass doors have broken, and plastic sheeting has been used to cover the damage. To prevent access, a metallic container covers part of the security fence, which was vandalised years ago.
The station has only three vans to cover the whole of KwaThema, while the other two are used for crime prevention.
Despite all these problems, KwaThema was crowned the best performing station in Ekurhuleni in the 2022-23 financial year’s SAPS Ekurhuleni District Excellence Awards.
The award was for overall performance in investigations, highest conviction rates and service to the community.
James said that over the years, the station had been visited by top government leaders, including the former police minister, Bheki Cele, and the senior management of the SAPS, but nothing had changed.
“The time to hold meetings is over. There have been excuses after excuses. Someone has to account for why this station is still in this state,” she said.
“This issue is not only a SAPS problem but also public works – the minister of public works and police need to account for this.
“Why can’t we replace cars and furniture? There is an entire pound of new cars, so why are they not giving this station cars?” she said.
James added that if the state can replace ministers’ cars after two days in office, it should not be difficult to give cars to the police to fight crime.
Pictured above: Dereleen James.
Source: Doreen Mokgolo
