Gauteng Legislature raises alarm over ICT and Infrastructure problems at Pretoria West Police Station

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has expressed serious concern over infrastructure and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) challenges affecting operations at the Pretoria West police station.

The concerns follow an oversight visit conducted by the committee last week, where members found what they described as conditions severely undermining effective policing and service delivery in the area.

According to the committee, the station currently operates from three separate office buildings, creating major operational difficulties for officers and management.

“The committee uncovered serious infrastructure and ICT challenges that are severely undermining effective policing and service delivery,” the committee said.

It added that the fragmented office setup negatively affects command and control, coordination among policing units and the station’s overall operational effectiveness because of the distance between the buildings.

The committee further highlighted concerns over outdated computer equipment and unreliable network connectivity, saying these issues delay case processing and disrupt access to essential policing systems.

Community safety concerns were also raised during the visit, including increasing reports of hijackings and kidnappings within the precinct, as well as the spread of illegal scrapyards and hijacked buildings linked to criminal activities.

“Of particular concern is the alarming revelation that a building located adjacent to the police station itself has been hijacked,” the committee said.

The committee described the situation as unacceptable and called on Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni to urgently intervene and ensure immediate remedial action is taken.

“A police station is the nerve centre of community safety and cannot be expected to effectively combat crime while operating under such unacceptable conditions,” the committee added.