The infamous Norwood police barracks are being currently revamped – years after tenants have been complaining about their living conditions there.
The North Eastern Tribune visited the residential flats and discovered that there was work taking place, even though most of the work is still far from being completed. At the Block A flats, contractors were busy painting, and some of the broken windows were being replaced.
Read: Norwood police search for car thieves
The 10-storey building’s elevators are, however, still not working, although some of the emergency hoses, fire extinguishers and lights have been replaced.
The previously exposed live wires are now securely covered and neatly fitted to ensure the safety of the tenants, especially children.
There were only a few areas of concern, including the stairwell behind the elevators which remains a dump area with piles of waste and plenty of cigarette butts and empty beer bottles.
One of the contractors, who did not wish to be named, said the filth on the stairs is the reason they are unable to work quickly. “We started working here last month and this is our second month and things are a little bit slow because of such things,” said a contractor.
“There are only three of us doing the painting job and replacing the windows, you can imagine when we will be able to finish the entire 10-story building. Even though, by the time we finish, the walls will be dirty again.”
There were other contractors outside who said their work is to fix the old scrap electric construction cradle machines that have been sitting outside the block of flats gathering dust. They did not wish to comment further and said, “We don’t know anything, we are just doing what we were told to do.”
Norwood Police Station spokesperson, Captain Elliot Tshivhase, said the revamp of the barracks is indeed taking place. “However, much of the information about what is going on there is not available to us but can be obtained from the Gauteng police provincial office,” he said.
“The procurement process about which company is working there and what is going is not available to us.” Tshivhase, however, conceded that the revamps were long overdue, adding that some of the contractors left before they even finished their work.
He then referred all the questions to Norwood Police Station’s commander, Colonel Anna Jojisa, who earlier in the year told Tribune that she was still new and has launched her own investigation about the situation there, referred all queries to the provincial office.
In response to questions sent on 9 November, Josisa said, “The contractors that are working there are assigned by the provincial office and I’m merely waiting for them to finish and deal with the security issues. We are busy with our own investigation and we will wait until the job is done.”
Read: R100 bribe leads to 3-year sentence for Metro police officer
At the time of publication, Gauteng provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Lungelo Dlamini had not responded to questions sent to him via email on 9 November.
This is a developing story and updates will follow as soon as more information becomes available.
Details: Norwood Police Station 011 483 4609.
