Empty Police Station Attracts Criminals
Empty station attracts criminals
June 7 2012 at 10:03am
By KUTLWANO OLIFANT
By KUTLWANO OLIFANT
INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS
An 8m by 4m container style steel structure designed to serve as a satellite police stations stands abandoned in Bramfischerville Soweto. The doors and window frames have been stolen. Photo: Timothy Bernard
What was meant to be a much-needed satellite police station in crime-ridden Bramfischerville, Soweto, is standing empty – and no one wants to take responsibility for it.
It had a brand new interior but that has been vandalised. Supposedly “vandal-proof” floors have been ripped out and are, according to residents, sold as scrap mental.
Aluminium doors and windows are missing and the wooden furniture is smashed.
From the main road the entrance stands open and the 30m by 30m fenced-off yard is over-run by weeds.
The branding on the walls is clearly that of the SAPS and its emblem is displayed on the walls.
The abandoned station, which was built in Phase 2 more than a year ago, is yet to render a policing service.
Residents are desperate for a police station in the area, saying even though patrol vans come around from time to time, they remain on the main roads where there are hardly any incidents.
The nearest station – Dobsonville Police Station – is more than 45 minutes walk away. A round trip on a taxi costs R15.
Resident and taxi driver Steve Sefafe said the satellite station has never operated.
He claims that the station is now used as a smoke hub for youngsters in the evenings.
“These boys come in there and smoke. We cannot tell them to stop, we are not cops,” he said.
Another resident who asked not to be named told The Star Africa that incidents of crime, such as burglary, were high in the area, saying time and money were barriers for residents to report the matters on time to the nearest police station.
“So much time is wasted when one walks or even takes a taxi to Dobsonville station. At least this station would have been useful and easier for us to report crime.
“It is very costly. We take taxis to have copies certified while we could have saved money for bread if there was a station here,” said the woman who lives near the abandoned station.
Sydney Motha said residents want police in the community.
“We can’t even run after these robbers because they use the satellite station as a getaway route to Durban Deep informal settlement which is just behind the station,” said Motha.
Gauteng police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Tshisikhawe Ndou referred The Star Africa to the Gauteng Department of Community Safety for comment.
Department spokesman Thapelo Mailoe confirmed that the satellite police station had never operated.
He said the purpose of having a satellite station in Bramfischerville was to have police closer to the communities, because Dobsonville police station was quite some distance away.
“We wanted to bring services closer to the people,” said Mailoe.
Asked what was delaying the opening of the station, Mailoe referred The Star Africa back to the SAPS.
“They assured the department that it will operate soon.
“Staffing is the responsibility of the South African Police Services,” Mailoe said.
He could not confirm the total costs of the Bramfischerville satellite station. He said the cost had been shared between the SAPS and his department.
“So we are not sure of the overall figure,” he said.
Mailoe said the department was aware of the vandalism and was in consultation with SAPS to allow patrollers to use it in the interim.
