The Fort Beaufort police station premises, found to be an unsound and unsafe building in February, has been repaired, and it was reopened with much fanfare on Mandela Day.
But while the Police, Prisons and Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in the Eastern Cape hailed the renovations, they have also threatened to take action against the relevant authorities for the bad state of the majority of the 196 police stations in the province.
The station was closed five months ago by the department of labour, which found it lacked structural integrity and was unsafe for workers and the public.
The building was shut after the department investigated several complaints about a leaking roof, clogged sewerage pipes, cracked walls and faulty electrical wiring.
In February provincial police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills said the building had been on the list of the department of public works for upgrades and renovations for more than 10 years.
On Tuesday the building, owned by the national Department of Public Works, was reopened by national Police Deputy Minister Bongani Mkhongi, accompanied by transport and safety MEC Weziwe Tikana and provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga.
The revamped police station at 26 Campbell Street was reopened amid fun and festivities on Mandela Day.
Eastern Cape provincial police spokesman Captain Khaya Tonjeni said the event had formed part of the Mandela Day commemorations.
Mkhongi planted trees before spreading cheer at children’s homes by giving toys.
He also gave out food to poor families selected by the local social development office.
“The planting of a yellowwood tree was a symbol of renewal, revival and growth,” said Mkhongi yesterday.
During the shutdown for renovations, police services had to be diverted to the Commando Building in Military Road.
Mkhongi’s visit in Fort Beaufort was preceded by an anti-crime operation in King William’s Town where he joined police at Bholweni taxi rank in a search for drugs and illegal weapons.
Mkhongi’s 67 minutes for Mandela ended at Amandla Pre-School, where painting and minor repairs had been done. Mkhongi said: “Local police decided to come here and offer this. While we fight crime, the biggest crime is poverty. We came here with this gift. We will also provide a boundary wall to improve the safety,” said Mkhongi.
Five prefabricated structures which will be used as police offices were also officially handed over.
Provincial Popcru secretary Zamekhaya Skade said: “We would like to applaud police management for the speed behind the reopening and we wish they would use the same speed and purpose to fix all other stations which are in a bad state across the province.”
The union has sent an ultimatum to the provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Ntshinga to fix all police stations that need it or face action.
On Wednesday, the union leaders in the province visited Moyeni police station in Peddie and returned with a damning report highlighting the poor state of the community service centre.
Skade said: “We compiled a report and handed it over to Ntshinga with recommendations. Failure to implement the recommendations will result in action.”
Skade said dozens of police stations, especially in Transkei and former Ciskei, were in a bad state.
He said the lack of ablution facilities, unsustainable and undrinkable water supply and critical shortage of vehicles were some of the challenges faced by too many of the 196 stations in the province. — malibongwed@dispatch.co.za
Joy as one EC police station is renovated
But while the Police, Prisons and Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in the Eastern Cape hailed the renovations, they have also threatened to take action against the relevant authorities for the bad state of the majority of the 196 police stations in the province.
The station was closed five months ago by the department of labour, which found it lacked structural integrity and was unsafe for workers and the public.
The building was shut after the department investigated several complaints about a leaking roof, clogged sewerage pipes, cracked walls and faulty electrical wiring.
In February provincial police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills said the building had been on the list of the department of public works for upgrades and renovations for more than 10 years.
On Tuesday the building, owned by the national Department of Public Works, was reopened by national Police Deputy Minister Bongani Mkhongi, accompanied by transport and safety MEC Weziwe Tikana and provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga.
The revamped police station at 26 Campbell Street was reopened amid fun and festivities on Mandela Day.
Eastern Cape provincial police spokesman Captain Khaya Tonjeni said the event had formed part of the Mandela Day commemorations.
Mkhongi planted trees before spreading cheer at children’s homes by giving toys.
He also gave out food to poor families selected by the local social development office.
“The planting of a yellowwood tree was a symbol of renewal, revival and growth,” said Mkhongi yesterday.
During the shutdown for renovations, police services had to be diverted to the Commando Building in Military Road.
Mkhongi’s visit in Fort Beaufort was preceded by an anti-crime operation in King William’s Town where he joined police at Bholweni taxi rank in a search for drugs and illegal weapons.
Mkhongi’s 67 minutes for Mandela ended at Amandla Pre-School, where painting and minor repairs had been done. Mkhongi said: “Local police decided to come here and offer this. While we fight crime, the biggest crime is poverty. We came here with this gift. We will also provide a boundary wall to improve the safety,” said Mkhongi.
Five prefabricated structures which will be used as police offices were also officially handed over.
Provincial Popcru secretary Zamekhaya Skade said: “We would like to applaud police management for the speed behind the reopening and we wish they would use the same speed and purpose to fix all other stations which are in a bad state across the province.”
The union has sent an ultimatum to the provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Ntshinga to fix all police stations that need it or face action.
On Wednesday, the union leaders in the province visited Moyeni police station in Peddie and returned with a damning report highlighting the poor state of the community service centre.
Skade said: “We compiled a report and handed it over to Ntshinga with recommendations. Failure to implement the recommendations will result in action.”
Skade said dozens of police stations, especially in Transkei and former Ciskei, were in a bad state.
He said the lack of ablution facilities, unsustainable and undrinkable water supply and critical shortage of vehicles were some of the challenges faced by too many of the 196 stations in the province. — malibongwed@dispatch.co.za
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