This comes as a relief to both community members and police officials who serve the public from the building.
Eyewitnesses and City Improvement District (CID) employees expressed their concern to Nelspruit Post about the disintegration of the station’s north-eastern wall in May, 2015. At that time, bricks had been spotted falling 45 metres to the busy Henshall Street sidewalk where locals and commuters make their way to the taxi rank.
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Nelspruit Post contacted the provincial police spokesman, Brig Selvy Mohlala, who confirmed that the situation had been reported to the Department of Public Works. He added that SAPS did not have the authority to proceed with fixing the problem without the assistance of the department.
“The SAPS cannot tamper with the building, or fix it, as it belongs to the department. Even if a building cracks, it is not the SAPS’ problem to solve, but that of the department. They must report the situation to the department of public works, who must direct which action should be taken,” he had said.
In the months that had passed, a fence was erected, barricading the area where the bricks were falling to the ground. It was eventually replaced by corrugated iron. Soon, the area became a dumping ground. According to the Kruger Lowveld Chamber Of Business and Tourism’s (KLCBT) Mr TJ Mare, it was even used as a public toilet.
The barricades were also taking up valuable parking space in an area where the lack of parking space is an issue regularly complained about. Pedestrians were left without a part of their walkway. A recent visit to the police station proved that construction on it has commenced. According to Mare, “A company has now been appointed by the Department of Public Works (DPW) to deal with the construction and repairs, on the inside and outside of the building.”
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He said the KLCBT had queried the state of affairs with the relevant authorities. He added he is relieved the problem is now being dealt with – even if it is two years after it was first reported.
“The good part is that the something is now being done. And it seems the push from KLCBT has been welcomed by the department and SAPS. In the end, working together and making things better are what are important. It is a positive result,” Mare said.
He emphasised, however, that is was unacceptable for the matter to have taken so long to be dealt with.
“We cannot have public buildings falling apart and deteriorating to that extent. It took two years to get this problem budgeted for.”
It must be mentioned that the provincial DPW is not responsible for the upkeep of public buildings. It is a national-department issue.
Nelspruit SAPS’ new station commander, Brig Gerrie Agenbag, is also happy with the progress. He was appointed on August 1. One of his goals is the increased accessibility of the police station. “We want our offices to be accessible to the public, attractive and clean,” he said.
Members of the city’s police have expressed their excitement about the improvements that are being done to the building’s exterior and interior. Agenbag said that he has been in daily latter with the Department of Public Works and that the department is doing its best to sort out the problem.
“We are in daily communication with its representatives. Unfortunately, there is not always a quick fix. Certain processes have to be followed,” he said. He added that Nelspruit SAPS is looking to improve its corporate image.
“We are taking it one step at a time. In terms of the SAPS’ national corporate image, all client-service centres should look the same,” he said.
