It is evident that the rampant crime plaguing Laudium leaves victims highly traumatised. To make matters worse, residents reporting crime at the local police station are confronted not only with frustrated police officers who work under pathetic conditions, but also are welcomed to the charge office that resembles a ‘pigsty’.
The Laudium Sun has received numerous complaints from both residents and police officials regarding the poor condition of the local police station. Bengal Street resident, Akbar Ali said, “Someone bumped into my daughter’s new car on her way to Tuks. She was highly traumatised, more so because it was a hit and run. I got my son to fetch her from the scene and arranged for a tow truck to take the car away. Instead of reporting it at the Brooklyn police station, I thought it would be better for her to report it at the Laudium police station, so I could accompany her. We went at night after opening our fast and completing prayers, but were left in total shock, upon entering the charge office. A number of lights were not working and most of the chairs were in tatters. The charge office was cold and the four police officials present, crowded around one small heater to keep them warm. My daughter refused to sit on the tattered chairs and left the station, more traumatised than before.”
Chartered Accountant, Osman Moosa, told the Laudium Sun that two weeks back he went to the Laudium charge office to report some damage to his gate by a taxi. “Firstly, there was no parking nearby. Then when I got into the charge office, I got a cold shiver, it was as if I was entering a prison. The charge office was dim as few lights were not working. The chairs were torn and grubby, whilst the floors were dirty. I immediately left without even reporting the damage to my gate.”
The Laudium Sun spoke to a number of police officials who were on duty at different times, concerning the poor working conditions at the charge office. All of them complained about the station commander, whom they claimed, was not interested in their well-being. They also complained about the non-functioning air-conditioner, resulting in the charge office being cold at night, as well as the refusal by police management to supply simple necessities, such as soap and toilet paper in the washrooms. “We go to toilet using newspapers and can’t even wash our hands with soap. One of our colleagues had to bring a heater, as this place gets extremely cold at night. Also, these windows in the charge office are a security risk for us, as people can see us from the outside but we can’t see them, because of this one-way glass. Additionally, there are no guards outside the station. We can so easily be attacked. How can we serve this community with dedication, under these poor working conditions?”, a group of three police officials asked in chorus.
CPF
The police officials added that the local CPF have done nothing to better their condition and that they only see the members of the CPF around, if one of their family members or friends gets arrested. “They then interfere with us and demand that we release the relative,” one police official said.
Police spokesperson at the Laudium police station, Samuel Chokoe, told the Laudium Sun, “We will look into the matter.”
A CPF member, who preferred to remain anonymous said, “It’s unfortunate that these days, the CPF is more about a power struggle than the original intention of it’s creation to assist both the police and the community, with the aim of fighting crime together.”
The entrance light in the Laudium SAPS charge office has been fused for months.
Security risk: One-sided tinted glass, through which people from the outside can see into the charge office, but police officials inside can’t see anything on the outside.
A wall plug in the charge office with no cover.
Tattered chairs, damaged ceilings and malfunctioning lights at the dilapidated Laudium police station, are just a few of the issues plaguing the community. See page 3.