The Portfolio Committee on Police has voiced serious concerns regarding the poor conditions of police stations across South Africa. It has called on the management of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) to take urgent action to improve working environments and boost officer morale.
Following a week-long oversight visit to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, the committee expressed frustration over systemic inefficiencies and bureaucratic delays that have left many police stations in a state of neglect. Committee Chairperson Ian Cameron emphasised that SAPS personnel cannot be expected to work effectively under such deplorable conditions.
The committee highlighted severe infrastructure issues at the Verulam and Durban Central police stations. Officers at Verulam are reportedly working in crumbling buildings, with collapsing floors and prefabricated offices that leak during rain. At Durban Central, half of the holding cells are inoperative, elevators are out of order, and ground-level toilets and air-conditioning systems have failed.
“These conditions are unacceptable. How can we expect officers to maintain high morale and deliver quality service under such circumstances?” Cameron stated. The committee urged the DPWI to develop a comprehensive infrastructure plan with clear timelines to address these challenges across all provinces.
During a visit to the Durban Central K9 Unit, the committee noted that while there is a reasonable number of deployable dogs, many are ageing, and several handlers lack assigned dogs. Cameron criticised SAPS for continuing to breed dogs instead of purchasing pre-trained, deployable canines. Given Durban Central’s strategic location near a harbour and its struggles with high drug prevalence, an efficient K9 unit is crucial, he said.
Furthermore, the committee found that SAPS had been waiting for over two years for specialised medical equipment for the K9 veterinary clinic, hampering basic veterinary care. The committee reiterated the need for decentralising functions currently concentrated at the SAPS Roodeplaat K9 Academy to improve efficiency.
Despite these issues, the committee commended SAPS provincial leadership for capacitating the Search and Rescue Unit at Durban Central. This proactive move, drawing from provincial resources, underscores the need for leadership-driven solutions to localised challenges.
The committee also raised concerns over the backlog in DNA analysis at the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). Cameron described the situation as a “constant state of paralysis and crisis” and called for an independent audit into the root causes of the backlog and delays in securing a permanent facility for the FSL in KwaZulu-Natal.
“It is unacceptable that SAPS continues to spend R500,000 per month on renting a facility that remains unused and is prone to flooding,” Cameron said. The committee has already reached out to the Auditor-General’s office and aims to meet in the second term to push for an urgent audit.
He further emphasised the critical role of timely DNA analysis in the prosecution of gender-based violence and femicide cases, urging accountability for the persistent delays.
The committee also addressed the growing problem of extortion and the need to rebuild public trust in the police force. Cameron warned that a lack of trust prevents communities from reporting extortion crimes, which ultimately harm local businesses and the economy.
“The SAPS must investigate officers suspected of involvement in extortion. Only by restoring faith in the police can we encourage the public to report these crimes and support dedicated officers in their efforts to ensure justice,” he stated.
The Portfolio Committee on Police has reiterated its commitment to holding authorities accountable and pushing for necessary reforms to ensure that SAPS members can operate in conditions conducive to effective law enforcement.
