Behind the Counter: How a Pretoria Police Station Became a Danger to the Public and Its Own Detectives

A shocking oversight visit to the Olievenhoutbosch Police Station in Pretoria has exposed conditions so dire they put the public, victims of crime, and police officers themselves in direct danger. The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety discovered that the station, which serves a bustling community, has been operating without a single functional holding cell for over a decade.

The most alarming finding? Suspects, including those arrested for serious and violent crimes, are routinely detained behind the front desk counterthe very area where traumatised victims come to open cases and citizens seek help.

A Powder Keg at the Front Door

Committee Chairperson Thebe Khumalo described the situation as “wholly unacceptable” and a clear threat to safety. “This practice exposes victims, the public, and police personnel to significant danger,” Khumalo stated. Suspects are often held there for extended periods before being transported to other stations with cells, creating a volatile environment where a sudden outburst could turn fatal.

The station was officially declared fully-fledged in 2011, yet plans for a proper, purpose-built facility have never materialised. This institutional neglect has forced police into a dangerous daily improvisation that undermines every principle of secure and dignified policing.

Detectives Buried in a Crowded Room

The dysfunction extends far beyond the front desk. The committee found 29 detectives crammed into a single office. The overcrowding is so severe that basic station management, including the briefing with the oversight committee, had to be conducted outdoors due to the lack of a boardroom or suitable indoor space.

This critical lack of operational infrastructure severely hampers investigative work, confidentiality, and the basic well-being of the personnel tasked with solving complex crimes.

A Station Operating in the Dark

Compounding the crisis is inadequate perimeter lighting, which has made the police precinct itself unsafe after dark. The station is forced to keep its gates closed at night, only opening for individualsa policy that severely limits access to services and signals a retreat from the community it is meant to protect.

In a sad irony, the committee noted that Olievenhoutbosch is not ranked among Gauteng’s “Top 40” priority crime stations, suggesting that dedicated officers are managing to achieve some results despite the impossible working conditions.

A Call for Urgent Intervention

The oversight committee has pledged to engage urgently with police management and public works authorities to force immediate interventions. The revelations from Olievenhoutbosch are not just about a rundown building; they are a stark metaphor for a system failing at its foundation. When a police station becomes a threat to the safety of those who enter it, the very contract of public protection is broken. The community, and the officers serving it, deserve far better.

{Source: Citizen}

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