EMPD precinct’s move postponed again

The EMPD precinct’s move to Northmead, which was anticipated to be completed by 2019 then postponed to 2020, has been postponed again to 2021/2022 or 2022/2023 at the latest.

This is according to EMPD media liaison officer Lerato Monyane.

In 2016, the City Times reported that the Benoni EMPD precinct, which is based in the Benoni CBD, was relocating to Northmead by 2019, in the hope of providing 24-hour services to the community.

“It is a long process, which includes site identification, consultants, drawing plans, approvals, building process and so on,” said former EMPD spokesperson Lt-Col Wilfred Kgasago.

“The reason for the move is a strategic management decision aimed at enhancing the services rendered by the precinct.”

In 2018, Kgasago confirmed that all was on track for the move.

“The process is ongoing, a consultant has been appointed and plans have been approved and a Bill of Quantities (BOQ) has been prepared,” said Kgasago in September 2018.

“The contractor will be appointed to start work onsite in October.”

In 2019, Kgasago said the relocation was moved to June 2020.

The contractor was supposed to be appointed in October, but Kgasago said due to logistics being attended to and administrations being finalised, the contractor is yet to be appointed.

The relocation did not take place in 2020, it has since been noted that the delay in the project is attributed to the appointment of contractors panel through the real estate department.

“The appointment of contractors is anticipated to be concluded by end of December,” said Monyane.

“However, it should be noted that due to the loss of time, it is wiser to allow the project to spill over to the 2022/2023 financial year for completion.

“This would avoid unnecessary pressures on the contractors and avoid any chances of cutting corners and compromise quality.”

The precinct offers basic services, including:
• Traffic fine enquiries
• Complaints reporting
• Payment of fines
• Funeral escort applications
• Applications for marches or demonstrations
• Accident reports
• General law enforcement, including by-laws

In 2016, Kgasago said the new precinct is expected to offer a customer care service centre, a writing room where administration takes place, cashiers, a media unit, social crime-prevention unit, lecture room, boardroom, armoury, gymnasium for the staff, holding cells (male and female), 10 offices and the hope of providing 24-hour services to the community.

“We are working hard in the background to ensure successful delivery of the project,” Monyane concluded.

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