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The Select Committee on Security and Justice has expressed deep concern over delays affecting the refurbishment of Park Road Police Station in Bloemfontein.

The committee began its weeklong oversight visit (21 to 24 October 2025) to the Free State yesterday with inspections of the Park Road Police Station, the Mangaung One-Stop Child Justice Centre and the South African National Defence Force Tempe Infantry Base. The visit forms part of the committee’s constitutional mandate to assess the effectiveness and performance of security and justice institutions across the country.

At the Park Road station, the committee discovered that a long-overdue refurbishment project initiated in 2016 with a budget of R51 million remains incomplete nearly a decade later. The work, originally scheduled to take 24 months, is currently only 76% complete, with progress having ground to a halt in July 2024.

The committee was informed that three contractors have withdrawn from the project over the years due to poor performance and late payments from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. The most recent contractor reportedly left the site after waiting four months for payment.

Acting Chairperson Inkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana stated: “The committee is shocked by the ongoing delays and the lack of accountability. The incomplete refurbishment has severely compromised service delivery and poses significant safety risks for both officers and the community.”
 
Among the challenges identified were, a non-functional community service centre, now operating from inadequate temporary premises; non-operational landline telephones, making it difficult for the public to contact the station and a lack of access control, creating a serious security risk, particularly at night.

The committee has resolved to summon the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure to appear before it in Parliament to account for the delays and lack of oversight in project execution.

During its visit to the Mangaung One-Stop centre, the committee was briefed on constraints caused by the ongoing renovations at the Winkie Direko Secure Care facility, which began in February 2025. These renovations have forced police to transport child detainees to distant facilities in Thabo Mofutsanyane and Matete Matches, placing further strain on limited resources.

The committee learnt that further issues reported include insufficient space in courtrooms for proper preliminary inquiries when multiple child offenders are involved and limited public toilet facilities. The committee was encouraged that despite these challenges, the centre has received national and international recognition for its dedication to child justice and community service.

The oversight also included a visit to the Tempe Infantry Base to assess military infrastructure, as part of the committee’s broader focus on national security.

Inkosi Nonkonyana emphasised the purpose of the oversight: “Our visit is driven by growing concern over rising violent crime, particularly against women and children. We are here to engage directly with stakeholders, assess the effectiveness of current strategies and identify areas where urgent intervention is needed.” The committee reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening law enforcement capacity, enhancing community safety and ensuring accessible and effective justice services for all South Africans.

As part of today’s programme, the committee will host a public engagement session with all the relevant stakeholders where the focus will be on stock theft, rural safety and SAPS service delivery. This session will take place at the Ficksburg Town Hall in Clarens at 15:30, and will provide a platform for affected communities to raise concerns and contribute to finding solutions.

Details of the programme are as follows:
Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Venue: Ladybrand Town Hall
10:00 Welcome and Introductions
10:30 Briefing on the BMA operations along the border with the Kingdom of Lesotho incorporating all ports of entry along the border
11:00 DPWI briefing on the border posts identified for redevelopment in Free State
11:30 Committee discussion
12:30 Lunch
14:00 Maseru Bridge Border Post site visit
15:30 Clarens, Ficksburg and Fouriesburg community engagement on stock theft and rural safety programme and SAPS service delivery matters. Venue: Ficksburg Town Hall
 
Thursday, 23 October 2025
Venue: Phuthaditjhaba, Department of Home Affairs office
09:00 Welcome and introductions
09:30 Briefing on the operations and challenges in serving the community.
Committee discussion
11:00 – 12:00 Site visit of DHA office and operations
12:30 Lunch
13:00 Phuthaditjhaba Magistrates Court: Welcome and Introductions
13:30 Briefing on the successes and challenges to the effective functioning of the courts
14:00 Committee discussion
16:00 Site visit of court facility
17:00 Travel to Harrismith, Intabazwe Satellite Police Station
18:00 Inspection of Intabazwe Satellite Police Station

Friday, 24 October 2025
Venue: Harrismith police station
08:15 Welcome and introductions
08:30 Briefing on the station upgrades and service delivery to the area
09:00 CPFs briefing on cooperation with police and challenges
09:15 Inspection of the facility
10:30 Travel to Harrismith Magistrates Court
11:00 Harrismith Magistrates Court: Welcome and Introductions
12:30 Committee discussion (working lunch)
13:30 Site visit of court facility

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE ACTING CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON SECURITY AND JUSTICE, INKOSI MWELO NONKOYANA.