By REGINALD KANYANE

22 October 2025- The Select Committee on Security and Justice has expressed deep concern over delays affecting the refurbishment of Park Road Police Station in Bloemfontein. The committee began its weeklong oversight visit to the Free State yesterday with inspections of the Park Road Police Station, the Mangaung One-Stop Child Justice Centre and the South African National Defence Force Tempe Infantry Base.

The acting Chairperson of the Select Committee on Security and Justice, Inkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana said the visit forms part of the committee’s constitutional mandate to assess the effectiveness and performance of security and justice institutions across the country. Nonkonyana said at the Park Road Station, the committee discovered that a long-overdue refurbishment project initiated in 2016 with a budget of R51 million remains incomplete nearly a decade later.

“The work, originally scheduled to take 24 months, is currently only 76% complete, with progress having ground to a halt in July 2024. The committee was informed that three contractors have withdrawn from the project over the years due to poor performance and late payments from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa.

“The most recent contractor reportedly left the site after waiting four months for payment. The committee is shocked by the ongoing delays and the lack of accountability. The incomplete refurbishment has severely compromised service delivery and poses significant safety risks for both officers and the community,” he said.

Nonkonyana further said among the challenges identified were a non-functional community service centre, now operating from inadequate temporary premises, non-operational landline telephones, making it difficult for the public to contact the station and a lack of access control, creating a serious security risk, particularly at night. He added that the committee has resolved to summon the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure to appear before it in Parliament to account for the delays and lack of oversight in project execution.

“During its visit to the Mangaung One-Stop centre, the committee was briefed on constraints caused by the ongoing renovations at the Winkie Direko Secure Care facility, which began in February 2025. These renovations have forced police to transport child detainees to distant facilities in Thabo Mofutsanyane and Matete Matches, placing further strain on limited resources.

“The committee learnt that further issues reported include insufficient space in courtrooms for proper preliminary inquiries when multiple child offenders are involved and limited public toilet facilities,” said Nonkonyana.

He said the committee was encouraged that despite these challenges, the centre has received national and international recognition for its dedication to child justice and community service. Nonkonyana said the oversight also included a visit to the Tempe Infantry Base to assess military infrastructure, as part of the committee’s broader focus on national security.

“Our visit is driven by growing concern over rising violent crime, particularly against women and children. We are here to engage directly with stakeholders, assess the effectiveness of current strategies and identify areas where urgent intervention is needed.

“The committee reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening law enforcement capacity, enhancing community safety and ensuring accessible and effective justice services for all South Africans,” said Nonkonyana.

He said as part of today’s programme, the committee will host a public engagement session with all the relevant stakeholders where the focus will be on stock theft, rural safety and SAPS service delivery. Nonkonyana said this session will take place at the Ficksburg Town Hall in Clarens at 3:30pm, and will provide a platform for affected communities to raise concerns and contribute to finding solutions.

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