SEBOKENG. – Serious allegations have emerged about the stressful conditions that the SAPS members have to work under at the Sebokeng and Evaton Police Station.

Sources, wishing to remain anonymous seeing the seriousness of the allegations, said that both SAPS and the members are being mistreated at the police stations as management is said to no longer be focused on fighting crime but only on statistics so their paperwork can look good for politicians (political leadership) and top management while down on the ground members suffer the burden of conducting unlawful arrests and detentions and the state is left losing billions of rands on civil cases.

The sources reveal that at the Sebokeng police station there are Undocumented / Illegal immigrants who have been detained unlawfully and the station’s management does not know what to do with them.

“The Home Affairs Department does not want to take them into their custody because they are unlawfully detained. Even the Correctional Services Department does not want them as they we returned from the Vereeniging prison (Leeuhof) back to Sebokeng,” the sources said.

The cells themselves, are said to be not fit to keep human beings in them, with there being not enough water supply leaving the detainees with no choice but to use a bucket to flush the toilet.

“When members complain or raise the health issues they are scolded like kids, and threatened with disciplinary actions, to be suspended or even fired. the health of people is at risk and as they are packed in there like animals as per station Commander’s Orders, if a health inspector can go in there those cells would be closed with immediate effect. Officers are so demoralised and a lot are depressed.”

Numerous enquiries attempt about the allegations to the SAPS Provincial spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo remained unanswered at the time of going to print.