PROJECT: STATE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE

Isabel Spies
1 day ago
5 min read

Updated: 5 hours ago

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The state of the South African Police Service (SAPS) infrastructure has reached a critical level,

with one in ten police stations nationwide classified as severely dilapidated.

This alarming situation was confirmed by Firoz Cachalia,

Acting Minister of Police, in response to a parliamentary question raised by Rise Mzansi MP, Makashule Gana.

According to official figures, 118 of the 1,165 police stations across

South Africa are deemed “inhospitable” and unsuitable for productive work environments.

The majority of these stations are located in the Northwest (23), KwaZulu-Natal (18), and Limpopo (18).

Gana emphasised that the conditions in police stations compromise the labour rights of nearly 190,000 police personnel and highlight a system unable to ensure public safety effectively.

PLANNED UPGRADES AND PROJECTS:

The government has announced 35 infrastructure projects to be completed by the end of the current financial year. These include:
- Construction of seven new police stations.
- Renovation of three additional stations.
- Repair of holding cells at 25 police stations.
Minister Cachalia reported that R305 million has been allocated for infrastructure upgrades during the current financial year, with R34 million spent by October.
Gana confirmed that his party would exert pressure to ensure budgeted funds are efficiently utilised and indicated plans to visit the SAPS national headquarters in Pretoria to reinforce the need for well-equipped and refurbished police stations.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF STRUCTURAL FAILURES:

VERULAM POLICE STATION:
- Officers operate in crumbling buildings with collapsing floors and leaking prefabricated offices.
DURBAN CENTRAL POLICE STATION:
- Half of the holding cells are inoperative, elevators are broken, and ground-level toilets and air-conditioning systems have failed.
TELKOM TOWERS (SAPS NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, PRETORIA):
- Purchased in 2016, now vacant and deemed unfit for occupation.
- Evacuated in February 2024 after safety violations, including faulty ventilation, no running water, broken lifts, and inadequate fire safety systems.
- SAPS has confirmed it will not return, seeking an alternative headquarters.
- Nearly R1 billion has been spent on acquisition and attempted refurbishment, with ongoing operational costs of R444 million annually across 22 leased properties in Pretoria.

RELEVANT NEWS ARTICLE:

https://groundup.org.za/article/auditor-general-tells-mps-of-damning-report-on-saps-headquater/

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) initiated a forensic investigation into the Telkom Towers

purchase and refurbishment failures, with potential criminal prosecutions under review.

The Auditor-General has flagged the situation as a material irregularity, reflecting mismanagement of public funds.

KEY CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:

BUREAUCRATIC INEFFICIENCIES AND BLAME-SHIFTING:
- SAPS depends heavily on the DPWI for construction and maintenance, yet delays and failures are often blamed on one another, creating accountability gaps.
INSUFFICIENT MAINTENANCE:
- Long-term neglect and lack of preventative maintenance have allowed infrastructure to deteriorate, making repairs costly and complex.
AGEING AND INADEQUATE FACILITIES:
- Many police stations are outdated, overcrowded, and ill-equipped to meet current operational demands.
- Issues include leaking roofs, collapsing floors, inoperative cells and lifts, and broken plumbing.
MISMANAGEMENT AND CORRUPTION:
- Large sums have been spent on projects such as Telkom Towers, without delivering functional facilities.
BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS:
- Cuts and uneven allocation of resources hinder the SAPS’s ability to address infrastructure gaps effectively.
IMPACT ON MORALE AND SERVICE DELIVERY:
- Unsafe and unsuitable working conditions have a negative impact on officer morale, retention, and operational efficiency, ultimately undermining public confidence in law enforcement.

EXAMPLES OF POOR INFRASTRUCTURE CONDITIONS:

Outdated buildings with no proper maintenance.
Leaking roofs and cracked walls.
Broken windows and faulty plumbing.
The facilities are too small to accommodate the current staff and public demand.
Overcrowded offices are affecting detectives, support staff, and service areas.
Extended construction timelines, sometimes exceeding a decade.

CONSTRUCTION DELAYS AND CHALLENGES:

TYPICAL CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE:

Site clearance: ~18 months.
Design and contractor procurement: ~8 months.
Building construction: 18–24 months.

CAUSES OF DELAYS:

Contractor issues: poor performance, abandonment of sites.
Litigation and disputes: legal processes exceeding five years.
Bureaucracy and lack of technical staff.
External factors: community interference and “construction mafias”.
Funding/payment delays from DPWI.

EXAMPLE CASE - VUWANI POLICE STATION, LIMPOPO:

Construction began in 2012 and remains incomplete.
The first contractor terminated in 2013 after completing only 20% of the work.
The second contractor worked from 2015 to 2021; the contract was terminated due to cash flow issues.
The third contractor was appointed with an expected completion in 2025; however, the work is still not finished.
Total cost already exceeds R90 million.

**The incomplete administration block. Police are only able to use a few offices inside this building.**

RELEVANT NEWS ARTICLES OF THIS EXAMPLE CASE:

The dilapidated state of police stations across South Africa represents a significant barrier to effective policing and undermines public trust. Addressing these infrastructure deficiencies is critical for safeguarding police personnel, improving operational efficiency, and restoring public confidence in law enforcement. Immediate, coordinated action is required to ensure that police stations are functional, safe, and capable of supporting the essential mandate of the South African Police Service.

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