PRASA distances itself from dilapidated building
The building that was went to be a police station and help reduce crime is now doing exactly the opposite.
The Passenger Rail Association of South Africa (Prasa) has distanced itself from the dilapidated building which was meant to be a police station next to the Saulsville police station built nine years ago.
The multimillion rand police station was completed in 2005 but never occupied, and now it has been stripped almost bare. Prasa spokesman Moffet Mofokeng said the police station was built as part of the adopted strategy to increase security at railway stations and on trains.
“The police station was built as per agreement between Prasa and the South African police service, it would have been funded by Prasa to ensure accommodation to railway police to protect Prasa rail assets.”
When Rekord visited the incomplete police station, the building was stripped of its roof, windows, electrical wiring and most other fittings.
“Unfortunately problems were experienced between the contractor and Prasa and the building was never taken over from the contractor due to the dispute. While the building was still under control of the contractor it was vandalised and it could not be occupied as money had to be sourced for repairs to the vandalised facility,” said Mofokeng.
“During this process the railway police strategy also changed and Saulsville was no longer a key point, unfortunately the contractor also withdrew from the site and this led to the facility being vandalised,” Mofokeng added.
South African National Civic Association chairman Nagesh Chetty says the police station has become a danger to the community.
“People sell drugs from that dilapidated building, and it is also a trading place for prostitutes. It was meant to help reduce crime in the area, but now it’s the complete opposite,” said Chetty.
Disgruntled resident Lloyd Mabuse said: “People get robbed here on a daily basis. Some people have been stabbed and killed, and worst of all, it is next to a railway station, where people catch trains to and from work.”
Mabuse said the building was being used as a shelter for homeless people.
“The criminals who use the this building break into homes in Laudium, Lotus Gardens, and Atteridgeville and come to share the stolen items here.”
Mabuse said the steel bars to the building cells had also been stripped off and sold to scrap metal dealers. “All the steel was stripped off and stolen, including the roofing and plumbing pipes.”
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