THE R51-million project to refurbish the Free State province’s largest police station is set to enter its 10th year with no completion in sight, despite originally being scheduled for just 24 months.
Work on the Park Road Police Station in Bloemfontein – which began in 2016 – has repeatedly stalled due to contractual and payment disputes.
The latest halt occurred in July 2024 after the most recent contractor reportedly abandoned the site following a four-month wait for payment from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
During its oversight visit to the Free State this week, Parliament’s Select Committee on Security and Justice expressed alarm at what it called “unacceptable” and “unaccountable” delays in the refurbishment.
The committee found that the project is only 76 percent complete, nearly a decade after its inception and with three contractors having now walked away.
Committee members said this pattern pointed to systemic failures in contract management, accountability and payment controls within the DPWI.
“The committee is shocked by the ongoing delays and the lack of accountability,” the committee’s acting chairperson Mwelo Nonkonyana said following Tuesday’s site visit.
“The incomplete refurbishment has severely compromised service delivery and poses significant safety risks for both officers and the community.”
MPs reported that the station’s community service centre remains non-functional, forcing officers to operate from cramped temporary offices.
There are also no working landlines, limiting public access to police services, while the lack of access control has raised serious safety concerns, particularly after dark.
The committee has now resolved to summon the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure to Parliament to explain the prolonged delays and oversight failures.
During a separate briefing at the Mangaung One-Stop Child Justice Centre, officials told MPs that capacity constraints have worsened since renovations began at the Winkie Direko Secure Care facility in February 2025.
The closure has forced SAPS to transport child detainees to distant facilities in Thabo Mofutsanyane and Matete Matches, stretching transport and staffing resources.
Additional backlogs have been caused by limited courtroom space for preliminary hearings, along with inadequate public toilet facilities.
Despite these pressures, MPs noted the centre continues to receive national and international recognition for innovation in child justice.
As part of its week-long programme, the committee also visited the SANDF Tempe Infantry Base to assess infrastructure conditions and broader security readiness in the province.
Nonkonyana said the oversight visit comes at a time of rising violent crime – particularly against women and children – and aims to evaluate whether frontline justice and security institutions are operating effectively.
“We are here to engage directly with stakeholders, assess the effectiveness of current strategies and identify areas where urgent intervention is needed,” he said.
The committee was scheduled to host a public engagement in Ficksburg on Wednesday focusing on stock theft, rural safety and SAPS service delivery.
Additional briefings on border management and infrastructure were set for Ladybrand and Clarens before the delegation proceeded to Phuthaditjhaba and Harrismith later in the week.
The oversight visit is expected to conclude this Friday with final inspections at Harrismith Police Station and the Harrismith Magistrates Court. – Staff Reporter