Free State police problems towards fighting crime and doing their duties are far from over due to lack of resources and offices.
On May 29, Sunday World reported that the Public Order Policing (POP) based in Sasolburg had found themselves working under trees in the Free State after they were ejected from the building they had been using as their offices.
Safety hazard
This was after the building was declared unsafe and a health hazard for the officers as it was not compliant with safety and health regulations of the Department of Labour.
After publishing the initial story, the SAPS bosses in Pretoria intervened and immediately brought container offices for the police to work in.
Today, we can reveal that two other buildings housing Thaba Nchu POP and the police band in the Free Sate were shut down by the department for safety reasons.
Insiders revealed that police officers were moved into the nearby building, which is used as a storage for police uniform.
“Since we were removed here in the building by the Department of Labour last week, we have been housed in the storeroom that keeps police uniform. The space is small, but we were told that we need to work from here as there was no other plan,” said a police officer who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation.
Another officer pointed out that the problem in the province can escalate into further disaster. She stated that the government was making their work difficult.
‘More rot in the SAPS’
“We are dealing with some serious problems of administration while we are also engaged in fighting crime. There are challenges and we are in deep trouble as nobody takes accountabilities for all the mess happening. As police officers who are tasked to deal with conflicts, crime and protests, we are not equipped with resources to attend to these problems. We are right in the deep end as this … is only the tip of an iceberg. There is more rot in the SAPS,” said one officer working in the POP.
The South African Policing Union (Sapu) in the Free State stated that it welcomed the decisive action taken by the department.
“These buildings were declared unsafe for employees due to severe neglect. These include blocked sewerage systems and inadequate lighting, both inside and outside the premises.
“This marks the third building shut down by the department in the month of May alone. further highlighting the persistent failure in maintaining properties under the care of the Department of Public Works,” said Sapu provincial secretary, Mantoetse Molapo.
Province battling
She said the state of infrastructure in the province continues to pose health and safety risks to employees. This affects the the police’s officers to perform their duties effectively, she added.
“Sapu in the Free State stands firm in its commitment to advocating for safe and conducive working environments for all its members. We call upon our members across the province to report any unsafe working conditions to the union. This so that immediate intervention can be pursued.
“Sapu will continue engaging the relevant authorities to ensure that neglected buildings receive the urgent repairs and attention they require. The safety and well-being of law enforcement personnel should never be compromised due to poor facility management,” said Molapo.
