Olievenhoutbosch Police Station is in crisis, with suspects being held at the front desk and officers, victims, and the public at serious risk, a legislative oversight has revealed.
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety conducted an unannounced visit and found that the station has no operational holding cells.
As a result, suspects, including those accused of serious and violent crimes, are routinely detained in the very area where victims first seek help.
"Suspects, including those accused of serious and violent crimes, are routinely detained behind the front desk counter, which is the first point of contact for victims of crime and community members seeking police services," said Committee Chairperson Bandile Masuku.
He warned that this practice puts victims, the public, and police officers in grave danger, eroding both safety and dignity.
"The Committee considers this situation wholly unacceptable and a direct threat to everyone in the precinct," he added.
Suspects are often held at the front desk for extended periods before being moved to neighboring stations with functional holding cells.
"This creates a volatile and high-risk environment that could easily result in serious injury or loss of life," Masuku added.
The Committee also flagged severe infrastructure issues. The station is poorly maintained and under-resourced, with inadequate lighting forcing it to close after dark. Overcrowding is extreme, with 29 detectives squeezed into a single office.
Masuku highlighted the lack of basic facilities. Staff have no proper briefing rooms or office space, forcing meetings to take place outdoors, a situation that lowers morale and undermines public confidence.
Originally established as a satellite station, Olievenhoutbosch was officially declared a fully-fledged police station in 2011. Masuku pointed out that more than a decade later, construction of a purpose-built facility has yet to commence, continuing to place both officers and the community at risk.
Despite the challenges, the Committee acknowledged the dedication of SAPS members.
"The fact that Olievenhoutbosch does not fall under Gauteng’s Top 40 priority stations shows that our men and women in blue continue to serve the community under extremely difficult conditions," he said.
The Committee emphasized the need for swift intervention, committing to engage relevant authorities to ensure officers are equipped with safe, adequate, and dignified working conditions that enable effective crime prevention and safeguard the community.
The ongoing infrastructure challenges at Olievenhoutbosch Police Station have raised questions about who is responsible for the delayed construction and upgrades.
Gauteng Provincial spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi clarified that building police stations is not the province’s primary responsibility but falls under the Department of Public Works in consultation with the Division of Supply Chain at SAPS National Head Office.
She added that Gauteng SAPS management has escalated the issue to the national office, where the National Division Supply Chain Management is implementing measures to address infrastructure gaps, a key priority in the SAPS five-year strategic plan.
The Star