Umhlanga police station upgrades to enhance community safety
Image: Supplied
Umhlanga's rapid growth and development needed a police station to meet its demands, said ratepayers when they met with the Minister of Public Works, Dean Macpherson, in Durban on Monday.
On Monday, while attending the KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure's Construction Imbizo in Durban, Macpherson complied with eThekwini Ward 35 Councillor Bradley Singh's request to inspect the Umhlanga police station.
Singh said the visit resulted in a commitment to address long-standing infrastructure issues at the police station, which was used by the SAPS and Durban metro police.
Key interventions agreed upon include: Immediate installation of a perimeter fence to enhance security.
Repairs to the main gate to ensure controlled access.
Restoration of the generator to full operational capacity.
'The Minister has committed to initiating the process of constructing a permanent building for the Umhlanga Police Station, replacing the current prefabricated structure. This marks a significant step toward establishing a fully functional and dignified facility for both officers and the community,' he said.
Singh said that after years of advocacy by residents, their voices were being heard, with the upgrades expected to improve safety and service delivery in Umhlanga.
'The Department of Public Works and SAPS will collaborate closely to expedite the projects, with timelines to be communicated in due course.'
Singh said the entire facility, including its grounds and offices, are in a shocking condition and fails to comply with basic health and safety regulations.
He added that as a police station serving the Umhlanga community, its current state reflects poorly on the department and undermines public confidence.
Terri MacLarty, chairperson Umhlanga Ratepayers and Residents Association (URRA), who was also in attendance at the site visit, said they were delighted with the progress made.
She said that ratepayers have been in support of making conditions more workable for the metro police who have been stationed at police stations since September 2022 and have worked under challenging conditions.
'We have engaged with the councillor to prevent metro police from relocating to KwaMashu as a result of poor working conditions and given that development in Umhlanga has rendered it no longer a village, but rather a Central Business District,' she said.
MacLarty said it was imperative that the metro policing of by-laws be stepped up and that they needed to have a permanent presence in Umhlanga.
'We are also appealing to eThekwini to increase metro resources to ensure that Umhlanga does not deteriorate, given the lawlessness that is and has crept in. Our thanks to Councillor Bradley Singh for acting swiftly, and we look forward to a temporarily improved and secure station, and ultimately a new structure to service the Umhlanga community, which is long overdue. The metro and SAPS put their lives on the line for us, and they deserve better,' she said.
[email protected]
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Eyewitness News
7 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Police investigate murder of four people in Bishop Lavis
CAPE TOWN - Western Cape police are investigating the murder of four people in Bishop Lavis. On Friday evening, two women and two men aged between 27 and 80 years old were shot and killed in Reënberg Street. Preliminary reports from the police show that the suspects fled the scene of the crime in a VW Polo. Members attached to the Anti-Gang unit and the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime unit are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie says no arrests have been made yet. 'Two unknown gunmen accosted the four in a bedroom, opened fire, and fatally shot the deceased, who all succumbed on scene to the injuries they sustained in their upper bodies. Bishop Lavis SAPS registered four counts of murder. The motive forms part of an ongoing investigation.'
The Herald
9 hours ago
- The Herald
Gift of the Givers strongly backs 'honourable' Mkhwanazi
As tensions build up ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's address on Sunday evening, organisations and individuals are speaking out on the conflict involving KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and police minister Senzo Mchunu. Last Sunday Mkhwanazi made the shocking claim tha t the disbandment of the political killings task team was orchestrated to shield politically connected members of a criminal syndicate from prosecution, with the assistance of Mchunu. Now, as the country waits for Ramaphosa's promised response to the claims, voices are emerging, opinions are being aired and people are taking sides. One of these is the humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers, which has come out firmly in Mkhwanazi's corner. ' SAPS is so often vilified, insulted, demeaned, maligned, accused of corruption, inaction and inefficiency. Yes, there are those within the SAPS, as in every institution, that have failed to perform, but to generalise and paint an entire institution with the same negativity is disingenuous, demoralising, unjust and unfair to those men and women in blue who put their lives on the line, who strive to serve with distinction, in spite of being under-resourced, unprotected, outgunned and unmatched by sophisticated criminal networks with the most advanced technology at their behest,' Gift of the Givers stated on its social media. 'Leadership, bravery, courage, intelligence, pragmatism, fairness and justice appears in the form of Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who challenges superiors, management, politicians, lawmakers and the system itself, in the interest of the citizens of our beloved country.' 'Gift of the Givers stands behind this honourable man totally,' said the disaster relief group's founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman. 'He represents everything that is right in the SAPS confronting organised crime in the form of CIT heists, drug dealing, corrupt politicians and civil servants, tenderpreneurs, construction mafia, taxi gangsters, hijackers and those defeating the ends of justice within all facets of the criminal justice system,' said Sooliman. 'Here is a servant of the law who inspires his own teams to be fearless, courageous and decisive in confronting everything that is rotten to the core in our society. We call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to personally give this servant of the state a hearing on the allegations and on how to improve the crime-fighting capability of the state and fully support him as the president has done so previously by calling for the establishment of a task team to deal with political killings so rife in KZN.' R amaphosa was attending the Brics Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last Sunday when Mkhwanazi made his astounding accusations. Mchunu has hit back, describing the claims as 'baseless' and 'wild allegations'. However, he later admitted to knowing one of the suspects named by Mkhwanazi, businessman Brown Mgotsi — dismissing their links as 'just a comrade'. Ramaphosa's office says he has 'been seized with this matter ... and will, following various consultations, take the nation into his confidence' at 7pm on Sunday'. TimesLIVE
IOL News
13 hours ago
- IOL News
Political interference in SAPS: Experts weigh in ahead of Ramaphosa's address
South Africans await to hear President Cyril Ramaphosa's views and decision about Police Minister Senzo Mchunu amid corruption allegations. Image: File As the nation awaits President Cyril Ramaphosa's address on Sunday evening regarding serious allegations of political interference and corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS), concerns about the integrity of law enforcement and governance continue to deepen. The president's forthcoming speech follows a dramatic public statement on July 6 by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who revealed allegations implicating senior political figures, including Minister Senzo Mchunu and police officials, in systemic corruption and manipulation. Ramaphosa, having been at the BRICS Summit in Brazil when the allegations emerged, promised to act decisively upon his return. Experts say the situation reflects longstanding challenges within the SAPS and the broader justice system. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Dr Simon Howell of the University of Cape Town's Centre of Criminology explained that while such public accusations at the national level are uncommon, 'within the organisation, there may be lots of people talking about things'. He stressed the importance of thorough inquiry: 'Credibility depends on who's making the statement, the reasons, and the evidence they can show. Considering the allegations made, there will need to be some type of inquiry.' Howell highlights the damaging effects of political interference on crime investigation. 'There have been recorded instances of political interference having a significant impact,' he noted, recalling the firing of Robert McBride from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate after he pursued allegations against senior officers. 'Political interference is a distraction from operational policing… it undermines police resources and public focus on the issues that should matter.' The constitutional design intended to separate political oversight from operational policing has, according to Howell, been eroded over time. 'The distinctions between the police minister and the commissioner have become very blurred. So long as those boundaries remain unclear, there are significant issues. The president needs to take firm leadership to restore and strengthen these boundaries.' On oversight bodies, Howell observed that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has become 'often toothless', lacking the power to conduct meaningful investigations. He pointed to recent successes by the Ministerial Police Agency (MPA) but insisted that reform is critical if public trust is to be rebuilt. The backlog of investigations, Howell added, not only damages public confidence but also corrodes police morale and discipline. 'Imagine working in an organisation where bosses are constantly under investigation or arresting one another. This has a severe effect on policing. Clear guidance and leadership are essential.' Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe described the allegations as 'dire', warning that they pose a fundamental challenge to the African National Congress and the entire criminal justice system. He condemned the ANC's handling of the Phala Phala scandal, particularly the classification of the report as top secret by Mchunu, who now faces accusations from Mkhwanazi of interference in policing operations. Seepe said: 'Phala Phala has already compromised Ramaphosa's standing. He is the last person to talk about the fight against corruption.' He called for the consistent application of the rule of law, including the removal of those implicated in corruption from positions of power. Legal expert Dr Lennit Max, a former police advisor, warned of serious consequences if Mchunu is found to have misled Parliament or interfered in police matters. 'The minister can be reported to Parliament's Ethics Committee for misleading the House, and a criminal case for perjury may be opened. If convicted, he could face jail, a suspended sentence, or a fine.' Max pointed to precedents set by the convictions of former national commissioner Jackie Selebi and ex-head of Crime Intelligence Lieutenant General Richard Mdluli, emphasising that 'no one is above the law'. He suggested the president may appoint an independent judge or commission to investigate the allegations and systemic failings within the SAPS. Meanwhile, businessman Brown Mogotsi, named by Mkhwanazi as connected to the controversy, denied any improper relationship with Mchunu or influence over the SAPS. In a TV interview, Mogotsi said he was not a police officer and held no formal role within the service. He claimed that he had phoned Mkhwanazi days before the media briefing to discuss fears among officers about arrests under Section J50. Mogotsi rejected claims that he arranged meetings with businessman Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala on the minister's behalf or benefited from SAPS tenders, saying: 'Ministers don't run tenders. I've never done that, consciously or unconsciously.' He also denied any familial or professional ties to the minister's spokesperson and expressed concern for his safety after receiving threats. Mkhwanazi revealed that Mogotsi first contacted him via WhatsApp in September 2024, warning of attempts to discredit the police commissioner through legal manipulation. The messages included sensitive police documents and raised questions about the extent to which outsiders interfere in operational policing. The allegations have sparked political fallout, with the MK Party's Deputy President, Dr Mandlakayise John Hlophe, calling on Ramaphosa to dismiss Mchunu within 48 hours, reinstate the disbanded Political Killings Task Team, and establish a judicial commission of inquiry. 'The minister's alleged interference in SAPS operations and connections to corruption have rendered his position untenable,' Hlophe wrote. 'His continued tenure undermines the credibility of your administration and the fight against organised crime.' He warned that failure to act would leave the MK Party no choice but to pursue all available mechanisms of accountability, including parliamentary oversight, legal action, and mass mobilisation. 'The Constitution enjoins you, Mr President, to act in the best interests of the Republic. The time to act is now.'
