Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo has escalated concerns about the Villa Nora police station, submitting a formal report to Ian Cameron, Chairperson of Parliament Portfolio Committee for South African Police Services.
The appeal follows a recent oversight visit revealing critical failures at the Shongoane 2, village facility outside Lephalale.
In a statement on Thursday, Beyers Smit, DA Constituency Head for Lephalale Municipality, described the station as “deeply disturbing” and emblematic of a policing system in total disrepair.
Housed in a looted former pensioners centre with only masonry intact, the building lacks reliable electricity, telecommunications, sanitation, and running water.
Officers rely on a single external tap for water and unhygienic long-drop toilets, while rented mobile facilities stand unused.
Despite high rates of rape and domestic violence in the area, the station has no Victim Support Room and inadequate resources to manage cases.
Staff shortages pose severe safety risks, with two detectives each handling 300 cases and the station commander responsible for 250.
No reservists support operations, and vehicle failures cripple mobility: four of nine police cars are non-functional, while eight have exceeded 250,000 km and struggle on rural terrain.
Officers lack basic equipment—radios, torches, handcuffs, and bulletproof vests—with female personnel particularly underserved.
Evidence storage is haphazard, kept in a Witpoort police station holding cell without proper SAP13 registers, compromising legal integrity.
While the Community Policing Forum remains active, Smit emphasised that community efforts cannot offset systemic SAPS failures.
He declared Villa Nora “in complete operational collapse,” urging immediate intervention from SAPS and the Department of Public Works to meet minimum safety standards.
The DA pledges to escalate the matter through parliamentary channels, stressing that Shongoane residents deserve professional, reliable policing.
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