No cells, no safety: Outrage over Tshwane police station conditions

Cape Town – An oversight visit by the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has exposed dangerous and unacceptable conditions at the Olievenhoutbosch police station in Tshwane.

The findings have raised serious concerns about the station’s infrastructure, safety standards and lack of basic facilities.

During the unannounced inspection, the committee found that the station does not have operational holding cells. As a result, suspects — including those accused of serious and violent crimes — are being detained behind the front desk counter, which is the first point of contact for victims and members of the public. The committee warned that this practice creates a volatile and unsafe environment for everyone entering the station.

Committee chairperson Bandile Masuku said the absence of proper facilities undermines both safety and the effective functioning of the police.

“This practice exposes victims, the public and our police officers to significant danger and completely undermines the basic principles of safety, dignity and effective policing,” he said, describing the practice as “wholly unacceptable.

The oversight team also identified several additional structural and resource-related challenges at the station. Nearly 30 detectives were found sharing a single office space, while the lack of basic facilities such as a boardroom has forced engagements with station management to take place outdoors.

The committee further noted that more than a decade after the station was declared fully fledged, there has been no progress in constructing a new, purpose-built facility to replace the outdated infrastructure. This delay has heightened concerns about long-term solutions to the station’s challenges.

“The Committee further observed inadequate lighting… which creates unsafe conditions, particularly at night,” as reported by The Citizen.

According to the committee’s findings, suspects are often held at the front desk for extended periods before being transferred to neighbouring police stations with functional holding cells, compounding both safety risks and logistical problems.

The Portfolio Committee said it will refer its findings to the relevant authorities and push for urgent interventions to address unsafe conditions and critical resource shortages at the station.